Your teenage years can be a challenge, and whilst the pressures of moving to university can certainly add to the struggle, growing trends show young people today are instead seeking international work experience.
In a generation that values experience over traditional education, more and more students are opting to skip the lecture halls and embark on a different path – moving abroad to work.
Relocating can be a scary and unpredictable shift in your life, but it can offer a unique blend of adventure, opportunity, and cultural immersion to make a lasting impact.
Alfie Dadd, a 19- year- old from Middlesbrough has recently transitioned from his family home in Stainton to starting his new life in Kuwait.
“Moving away from home at a very young age to a different country has been one of the best things that I have ever done in my life,” He said.
“I have been able to meet a lot of new people and immerse myself in a foreign culture.
“There are so many pathways for me now as I am building bridges with people that will eventually move around the world so I will have connections if I would like to go into teaching.”
Alfie has taken on the role of a teaching assistant in a primary school, after spending a long eight years in education at The King’s Academy, where he left with all his GCSEs and three A-Levels in Business, Sociology, and PE.
“I went to be a teaching assistant because I wanted to know what it would be like to be a teacher,” He said.
“I wasn’t 100% sure on going to university, so I thought I would get the full feeling of what being a teacher is really all about.”
Alongside professional work, there are many travel opportunities to be had.
Kuwait is located in the Middle East and is known for its rich history, vibrant culture and carefully-crafted architecture, offering a blend of tradition and modernity.
“Whilst out in the Middle East, the pay is pretty good so I have had opportunities to travel, ” Alfie said.
“I am currently away in Thailand, which is something I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had stayed at home because the costs are much higher.
“I have plenty of trips planned in the future as well.”
To hear more of Alfie’s story listen below:
