Josh, Aged 22

“I joined the JET programme around the age of 13. I would have described myself as a very quiet and shy, that had trouble engaging in conversions and making friends. This was picked up by my school, who suggested that the Blue Skies Programme would be a good fit.”

“I remember being put in a classroom with several other students around the same age from different backgrounds and abilities. Emma (Emma Egging, previous JET CEO) came in and she told us who she was and that we’ve been selected to take part in the JET Programme.

In those first months, I visited RAF Scampton, Cramwell, Waddington and Coningsby. Meeting both volunteers and serving members. Taking part in activities that made me interact with other people. But even after that first day I returned home buzzing, talking nonstop of what I did, where I went and who I met.

Little did Emma know she played a part in increasing my confidence, before even the level 2 started I joined Air Cadets, taking part in their activities, going to new places like RAF Wittering and countries like Belgium.

JET helped me to build a mindset of overcoming situations and adapting. I couldn’t enlist in the RAF due to medical circumstances; therefore I took a different route finishing my degree with a first-class honour in Product Design.

My achievements include winning this year’s Royal Society of Arts Student Design Awards, a concept and design to convert decommissioned oil rigs into large scale kelp farms and processing units for rural Scottish economies. I also have a product in development that will be hitting the market next year.

Reminiscing on those days, the thing I most apricate was talking to those who volunteered their time. Listening to them recall their stories, talk about their day to day lives, places they’ve been, lessons they’ve learnt and experiences. It made me realise that life throws you lots of curved balls, and that’s OK. You catch the ones that matter.”