Amara's
Story®
From Curiosity to Career: How one guest speaker talk opened a world of possibilities for Amara.
The Girl Who Found
Her Calling
Amara, 15, has been coming to Britannia Youth Organisation for two years. Ask anyone at BYO about her and they'll tell you the same thing: she never misses Sunday football. Rain or shine, Amara is there, boots laced, ready to play.
But it wasn't football that changed her life. It was a guest speaker talk on a random Sunday afternoon—one of those sessions Hassan Kingsley brings in professionals to expose young people to career pathways they might never encounter otherwise.
Image generated by AI for safeguarding purposes. The real Amara's identity is protected, but her story is genuine.
One Afternoon,
One Speaker
Anna Iman came to BYO to talk about psychology. A professional from HSBC and graduate of the University of Birmingham, Anna spoke about understanding emotions, mental health, and how the mind works. Most of the kids listened politely, asked a few questions, and moved on to the next activity.
Amara was different. She sat forward in her chair. She asked question after question. After the session ended, she found Hassan.
“I never knew you could study how people think. Like, as a job. I thought therapy was just… I don’t know. I didn’t know it was a real thing you could learn.”— Amara, age 15
Birmingham Central Library, where Amara borrowed the psychology books that sparked her interest.
The Library Visit
Hassan noticed. He always notices. That's what makes BYO different—someone is actually paying attention. Hassan told Amara he had a couple of books she might like and would bring them next week.
The following Sunday, Hassan handed her two books: The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson and Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Not exactly light reading for a 15-year-old. But Amara devoured them.
She read The Psychopath Test first—drawn in by the blend of psychology and storytelling. Then she tackled Kahneman's dense exploration of cognitive biases and decision-making. She didn't understand everything, but she understood enough.
Amara still never misses Sunday football—but now she's thinking about her future in a completely different way.
A Conversation That
Changed Everything
Two weeks later, Amara came back to BYO buzzing with questions. She wanted to know more about university courses, about what qualifications you need, about whether psychology was "hard."
Hassan sat down with her after football. They talked about A-levels, about university applications, about what studying psychology actually involves. Then Hassan asked her a simple question: "Does your school offer Psychology GCSE?"
Amara didn't know. She'd never thought to ask. The next day, she went to her school's guidance counselor. Her school did offer Psychology GCSE. She signed up immediately. Now she's in the class, loving every minute of it, and already researching university Psychology courses.
“I think I want to be a therapist one day. Or maybe a researcher. I don’t know yet. But I just want to help people understand their minds better. Like, really understand what’s happening inside.”— Amara, age 15
Guest speakers like Anna Iman help young people see possibilities they didn't know existed.
The Power of
Guest Speakers
Anna Iman's visit to BYO is part of a regular programme where professionals and university students come to speak with young people. These sessions expose participants to career pathways and possibilities they might never encounter in their day-to-day lives.
Pablo Ruiz ArangoWatch
Bocconi · HSBC · Nova Talent Italy
International trade and global economics
Sasha BhangooWatch
Final Year PPE · University of Oxford
Politics and democracy
Various professionals
Finance · Healthcare · Creative
Careers across all industries
These aren't formal lectures—they're conversations. Young people ask questions, hear real stories, and see tangible proof that ambitious paths are accessible.
Still Showing Up
Amara still comes to BYO every Sunday. She still plays football. She still hangs out with her friends. But now she's also asking Hassan about university applications, about personal statements, about what comes after GCSEs.
She's started watching psychology videos on YouTube. She's reading more books. She's thinking about her future in a way she never did before—not because someone told her she had to, but because someone showed her she could.
The Ripple Effect
Amara's story isn't unique at BYO. It's what happens when you create consistent, supportive spaces for young people. One guest speaker talk. One book. One conversation. These small moments add up to something profound: a young person realising they can shape their own future.
This is what BYO does. Not by imposing paths or pushing agendas, but by opening doors, lending books, answering questions, and showing up—every single week—so young people know someone believes in them.
What You Can Do
Stories like Amara's only happen because people like you support organisations like BYO. Whether through donations, volunteering your time, or sharing opportunities with young people in your network—you can be part of creating more moments like this.