This article is a mixture of encouragement and advice for anyone thinking of dropping a subject or anyone who already has done so. I've filled this post with observations and thoughts about what dropping a subject can feel like, in the hope that others can relate.

I would like to remind students that not enjoying the course anymore or finding the work too difficult are all part of working towards any hard qualification such as A Levels, meaning it isn't necessarily time to quit your course every time you feel burnt out. At the same time, reminding those who do decide it is getting a bit much, that it's okay to change things.

I am not sure how many people are fans of the TV show, 'Dad's Army', but it's a well-loved classic in our household. It's based in WW2 and contains several lovable characters whom you might be familiar with. I am reminded of one episode in particular when a young member of the cast, named Pike, is called up to join the RAF. To cut a long story short, the other characters plan a farewell dinner for him whilst in the meantime he finds out he isn't actually able to join the RAF for health reasons. The dinner goes ahead and only at the end is Pike able to explain he isn't going away, after all, much to everyone else's dismay.

If you've recently moved to college, university, sixth form or had a change in your education, it's most likely you need to do a clear out of folders, binders, loose pieces of paper, old books, essays, revision cards ... the list goes on. These types of clearouts can mean bedrooms turn into un-organised filing rooms and the wardrobe becomes a haven for old forgotten essays. I have definitely struggled with this before and decided to write this post to give anyone in this position some help.

With school or sixth form coming to a close for a lot of you, it may be daunting to choose what to do next. If you've applied to university or for an apprenticeship you might be wondering whether to go ahead with it or whether to have a break from education and do something different. Here are a few reasons why a gap year might be suited to you as well as some ideas of things you could get up to if you did decide to take a break from studying.