The problem with Damo is he externalises everything so its not his fault its always someone elses.

Plenty of people have gone through his schools and achieved well and so could he if he changed his attitude and his style.

Education was a different kettle of fish back then. I’ve not come across one person whose 10 - 15 years older than me and on the dole. Its all from my era of going to school. Education Leeds is an absolute disgrace. There’s a conspiracy going on so that young people stay on the dole forever!

One could argue, that since leaving the system, what else have you done about it ?

Given that Leeds is a fairly large conurbation, a benefit of having a lot of people around is that it does have quite decent +16 educational facilities (night school / colleges etc.) scattered all over the city and offering a wide range of programmes or courses. They're certainly a lot better than the semi-rural location where I live.

Have you looked at them and why haven't you signed up for one of them ?

The chances are, if you're 'resting', the courses will be offered at a discount or will be free. You'll also find that in an 'adult' learning environment people are motivated (because they want to be there) and darn-sight more productive than the ones you used to do at school. It is one reason why a GCSE type course at College takes one year, rather than the three a school takes.

Once you've got the ball rolling, there's nothing to stop you doing something that will take you to University or it is perfectly possible to do a 'degree level' qualification without even setting foot inside a University.

The question you should really be asking yourself is what sort of career or occupation do you want and what qualifications do you need to get it, then signing up and completing that course (and the next one and the next one and the next one until you get it).

As the Chinese say, the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step .... The question is, have you actually taken that first step yet ? No-one is going to hand it to you on a plate and there will be a fair amount of graft, dedication and heart-ache on the way, but won't that be worth it in the end ?

Despite popular belief on here that I went straight from school into the job centre I didn’t. I found myself in college for two years where I past with flying colours. These same qualifications have got people into University. However not something I’m remotely interested in.

The reason why I’ve not signed up for any course is because I want a job. If I wanted to do any courses I would have been on one easily.



I really don’t know what I want to do and someone has recently pointed out that I’m lost. I’m doing too much accommodating for other people and places. To the job centre I just want any old job to get me off the dole. To the people in the entertainment industry I’ll let you have a good guess at that.

The only thing I excel at is been an idiot. In fact I got my first job filling in my application form like an idiot. When it asked me what experience I have with the public I answered I’ve lived amongst the public for many years now. Got that job but left it two weeks later for a silly reason.

Filled in job applications seriously and its got me nothing. What is this trying to tell me?



If your not enjoying the journey then your certainly not going to enjoy the destination. I suppose I’m not enjoying the journey to becoming a drone so I won’t enjoy the destination. I’ve got to become that person I was two years ago rather than the too serious one that I am now because its done me no favours.

You’ve given me something to think about and I’ll think it over properly today.

Thank You.

The thing about the entertainiment industry is that it is very hard to get in to, but is possible ... There are many people working in the industry that are household names today, that came in by being a 'runner' (literally giving their services for free / working as a voulenteer), being a general 'dogsbody' and making the tea. Have you considered seeing what say Leeds Hospital Radio might be wanting ? You might be able to get in there using your 'yoof' angle ? Again, it is an area that has turned people from voulenteers in to stars ....

There are also a number of media courses available, from journalism to radio production available through the various colleges. Again, those are a way to get your name 'known' and out there.

The thing about qualifications is that many 'regular' employers look for them as a method of proving, regardless of the talent to do the job or not and for many roles, you won't even get an interview if you don't tick the right boxes by having a bit of paper behind your name. Likewise, there are a lot of clueless people out there that are doing jobs that they have zero talent in doing, but are there beacuse they have merely gone through the academic process.

As for the filling in of application forms, again you are in a positive position to help make some forward steps. Have you actually asked at places like the Job Centre, if there is anything they can do (or point you in the direction of) getting some help in how to write a knock'-'em-dead application ?

Finally, would you consider moving away from Leeds ? There is the Media City development in Manchester, where half the BBC is going to be based in a few years and you don't seriously think they're all going to come up from London to work there, do you ?

I agree that the entertainment industry is very hard to get in. Otherwise I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in right now.

A lot of ‘famous people’ from Leeds tend to make it in other cities and get recognised they as I did a bit of research on this whilst I was with Armstrong Learning. Marco Pierre White and Alex Zane are two examples.

Personally I think I’ve done my voluntary through Youtube and if I can’t sell anything that I’ve done off of they to anyone then its pointless going on. I’ve found my next natural step is to round up a list of potential agencies that look after the stars. Select who may fit my style and get in touch with them.

Going to send an email off to each one then pop off to the job centre and ring these expensive lines. After all it is looking for work even if it isn’t the kind of work that a job centre does.

I stand a pretty good chance thanks to recognition by the BBC and Times Online to name a few.

Again thank you.