Although June usually signals sunnier days, for many students undertaking GCSE and A level exams and embarking on the long wait for results, this month can bring about a great deal of stress and anxiety.
As the cost of going to university continues to rise, the commitment to a further three or four years of book learning can seem daunting and simply may not be the right next step for those who are ready for something new.
This is the opinion of 20-year-old Louis Bell, from Carrickfergus who, a year ago, embarked on an apprenticeship in the kitchens of the Galgorm Resort & Spa with Northern Regional College.