Against the Grain
As more of our alumni explore gap years and other alternative pathways, the journey after Sixth Form is becoming increasingly diverse, with graduates choosing routes that offer flexibility, experience, and a clearer sense of direction.
Hear from alumni of the last decade who opted for non-traditional paths, and learn how those choices have shaped their careers and identities today.
Maddy Tooley (2025)
I graduated from Headington Rye in 2025 and was offered the opportunity to work with Cirque du Soleil in the Dominican Republic, which led me to take a gap year.
Gymnastics has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and this opportunity aligned perfectly with my skills and interests. I was going to be training with the team, coach guests how to trapeze, and perform in shows throughout the week at Club Med. I was preparing to move to the Dominican Republic when I found out that the resort had burned down, which completely changed the course of my gap year.
Despite that, I was able to travel later in September 2025 to train with the circus team at Club Med and will be flown out a few times throughout 2026 to continue training with them.
In the meantime, I have been working at Leander Club, one of the world’s oldest rowing clubs, where I’ve been able to connect with rowers and coaches. This has allowed me to gain insight into high level sports and network to expand my future career plans.
From my experiences, I’ve learned that plans can change and situations in life won’t always unfold the way you expect. I’ve learned to be brave, to try new things and to see that rejection is just redirection. It’s changed how I view experiences in life, one bad experience doesn’t dictate how the rest of my experiences would turn out and more often than not, it leads you towards the same goal, just by a different route.
What’s next for me is to continue going on my trips to Club Med to train and travelling before starting my degree in Sports Science at the University of Surrey in September 2026.
Emma-Annalise Miles (2024)
After graduating in 2024, I decided to take a break from my studies to gain some work experience in South America, mainly in Guyana. I began my year supporting HSOBC at the Head of the Charles in 2024. It was very different for me to go as a coach and supporter rather than an athlete. It was an incredible experience and I am very grateful to Chris and Ryan for allowing me to join them. After the weekend, I started making my way to South America, first stopping briefly in New York before heading straight there.
I was always considering taking a break after school to develop my independence and practical skills. I have a keen interest in animals, and my ultimate goal is to become a vet. So, I looked into volunteering opportunities at animal clinics. I knew I wanted to go somewhere warm and different from my experiences in the UK. I researched and found a practice in Guyana where I could learn from and observe a local vet who had trained at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the UK.
The first few days were definitely a shock as I adjusted to the hot climate and the language barrier with clients, which was sometimes difficult. However, after a while, I found my footing. The vet nurses working with the doctor explained procedures to me and helped with filing and organising patient records. All of this was done using paper which required accuracy and efficiency. I learned key skills for managing a practice with clients who have limited resources, and it emphasised the importance of not only treating clients but also educating them on how to prevent or reduce the risks of certain illnesses. Both the lead vet and the nurses were supportive and gradually trusted me more as I learned over time. This allowed me to stand at the front desk during the last few weeks, especially during busy times. Outside of work, I took part in local events and festivals, including Mashramani (Guyana Republic Day) and Phagwah (Holi), which were my favourites. I made wonderful friends who showed me all the best food, and I was able to visit and stay with some family members while I was there. I was privileged to experience kayaking in the forest and quad biking, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Driving myself around Guyana was the most exhilarating and enjoyable experience. Finally, thanks to my family connections in Guyana, I had the opportunity to try driving construction trucks, the equivalent of JCBs.
Currently, I am studying Veterinary Bioscience with the aim of pursuing vet med afterwards. These experiences have not only made me more prepared but have also reaffirmed my love for vet med and my desire to help others. I have learned to take nothing for granted, and I believe a little bit of kindness can go a long way. I would highly recommend considering a gap year either before or after university. These experiences have broadened my perspective and made me more independent than I ever thought I could be. After all, if I managed all that on my own, then I can do almost anything.
Anežka Macey-Dare (2015)
After graduating in 2015, I spent my gap year working in a neuroscience lab in Oxford, and also working at a school uniform company. I had a bit of a plan going into it but mostly figured things out as I went! The gap year itself was a short notice decision, as the medical school I applied to and had a place at, offered me a scholarship to defer my entry and do a gap year working on a research project of my choice.
The biggest highlight of the year was getting to present some of my research at a large conference in Copenhagen. The biggest challenge was probably going straight from school to working in a university lab as there was definitely a knowledge gap at that time, but I was lucky to have a patient supervisor and picked things up relatively quickly.
I think overall, my gap year was beyond what I expected and I have learnt to always seize opportunities that come your way.
I think a gap year definitely gave me some advantages over going straight to university. It was a brilliant experience, and I felt much more ready to move away and start university after having completed my gap year.
Since my gap year I have completed both a medical degree and DPhil (PhD) and I am now working as a medical doctor in London. Yes, the lab I did my gap year in was the one I ended up doing my PhD in! My gap year really kickstarted this whole adventure. It is where I found my love of wet lab work and also had a big role in growing my interest in many aspects of medicine.
