NoWrongPath - Ross Cunningham

Aged just 16, Ross Cunningham left school after 5th year due to ill health. 

With no Highers, Ross was unable to go to university as he’d planned and fearing the worst for his favoured career in video content creation, he was feeling downbeat about his future. 

He said: “Thankfully my health made a recovery, and I went to college to do qualifications which would allow me to go to university like I planned.” 

Ross took a year out to work as an admin assistant, save money and support himself through a Media & Film course at Stirling University. He then went on to start up his own video production business before being offered a job working in media for St Johnstone Football Club. 

He has since worked in communication roles in politics and the charity sector before moving to Orkney to take up the role of Service Manager for Democratic Services and Communications at the Council. 

His advice to students: “The whole experience I’d gone through at school just made me more determined to get where I wanted to go, and I gained a lot of experience and met new friends from my time at college I wouldn’t have otherwise. 

“I would say to anyone who doesn’t get the school qualifications they wanted, welcome to the club! It’s not a nice feeling but don’t beat yourself up too much, just focus on a different path to where you want to go and take your first steps towards that.”