It's safe to say that without completing my Gold Award I wouldn't have discovered the career path that I wanted to pursue in life. While I was on my residential, a working holiday with the National Trust in Yorkshire, I realised that conservation and working outdoors was something that I could very very happily spend the rest of my life doing, knowing that I was having a positive impact on the environment.

Not only that but during my expeditions, I learned about the Mountain Training Association and how I could complete awards with them, and achieving the Lowland Leader Award is now a big goal for me.

Overall, my Gold Award was an eye-opening and fantastic experience and I will hold memories from it for the rest of my life. I am so grateful that I was able to take part.