This week we ask young people about their ambitions.
| People who really work for what they believe, and have some meaning to their life other than money, inspire me. |
Nichola Lockhart, 18, Kenton
I'm extremely ambitious and I'd like to be a dancer, because I've been dancing since I was young. My primary school teacher inspired me to do this. He's made me what I am. He's a dance teacher and got me into lessons from age six, then encouraged me to go to Dance City in Newcastle.
I'm already halfway towards my ambition because I've worked in a semi-professional dance company for a year. They auditioned people from all over the north-east and I was among the six girls they picked. Enjoyment is definitely the most important factor for me, I'm not going into an area of entertainment that pays very highly so I need to enjoy it. There's so much competition for jobs that you need to go to university. Even in dance you need a dance degree.
There are some jobs I would never want to do. I once did market research for a part-time job, and that's put me off phone work in general. I wouldn't want to do manual work either because I've seen how dangerous manual work can be.
You can be any age to achieve an ambition, if you want it bad enough. It doesn't matter how old you are. My cousin, who's in the international squad for trampolining touring all over the world, has achieved all of her ambitions.
Katie Manasse, 17, Jesmond
I don't have any main long-term ambitions, as I tend to put off making decisions till later. I like to base decisions around future events like exam results. When I leave school I would like to go to university. Before I go I would like to take a year or two out, to receive experience of different jobs and go travelling. I chose this particular path for myself rather than being inspired by anyone in particular. University is only worthwhile if you're interested, otherwise it's just paying a large amount of money for something you're not going to make the effort with.
Some famous people inspire me. People who really work for what they believe, and have some meaning to their life other than money, also inspire me. There aren't really any particular people that put me off, just particular jobs that I know I wouldn't like, such as sandwich-making.
The age you achieve your ambition depends on the ambition, and how long it takes to train, but an ambition also depends on being focussed and determined. I keep changing my mind with aims because my main ambition is to be happy, and the things that make me happy tend to change. I work mainly for the money rather than enjoyment, but would draw the line at a particularly bad job.
John Walker, 17, Gosforth
I've wanted to be a music journalist for a couple of years now - it would be a very interesting job. Most of my friends and family support this ambition, except a few who think the press are scum. I'm inspired by famous writers and reporters because I would like to be famous too one day, although friends also inspire me. Lots of people's ambitions just consist of wanting to get drunk. This is sometimes a good ambition for the weekend, but not for life.
Craig Dodd, 19, Fawdon
I'm ambitious but I keep changing my mind. I want to get good grades in school, then go to university and do well there, in a media studies degree. University is a good way to help you achieve your ambitions because you need qualifications and need to know what you're doing.
Eventually I would like to be a director. Ridley Scott inspired me to do this because of his fame, and he comes form the North East. Family and friends offer advice too, such as help with my present media studies course. I want to work mainly for enjoyment but money would help also. What puts me off is poor instructions and people who don't help you. You don't have to be old to achieve things. You can achieve an ambition at any age.
About the team
This story was edited by produced by Dean Bransby, 15, and John Walker, 17. Reporters: Melissa Skinner and Gavin Mather, 13. Junior Jury is a weekly column published in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
