A Future Leader: Joseph and his goal of becoming a Royal Marines Officer

Joseph has the aim of becoming a Royal Marines Officer when he finishes College. His experiences as a student at EKC Broadstairs Junior College and EKC Canterbury College have shaped his career path and given him the confidence to reach his goals. 

Joseph was home-schooled before attending EKC Broadstairs Junior College with a Sports specialism. When starting his course at the age of 14, he found the adjustment from schooling at home to the classroom environment to be a smooth transition and said that it took him only one week to learn to sit at a desk to study. 

Initially, Jospeh wasn’t focused on academic success.  

“I wasn’t thinking about GCSEs. I made some friends at Junior College and just started mucking around,” he said.  

After a few months on his course, he realised he needed to find a clear path and to focus on his grades. Over four months, he raised his grades significantly, achieving an impressive 8 in English and 5 in Maths. With the guidance of lecturers at EKC Broadstairs College, Joesph found the support he needed to excel.  

“Something I would say is, when I wanted to put the work in, I had all the support I needed. My English and Maths tutors were great. They had a lot of good tips to help me improve my GCSEs,” he shared. 

“I’m not exactly sure when I decided I wanted to be a Royal Marines Officer, but I think that conversations with TJ, the receptionist, helped me to see what I wanted to do. I matured a lot while at Junior College,” Joseph commented. 

Joseph is now pursuing a Level 3 course in Public Services at EKC Canterbury College. He is learning about various leadership styles and applies his lessons during class presentations and group projects.  

“I enjoy making presentations and presenting in class. It’s good practice. I want to get comfortable talking to a large group of people because that is something I would do as a Royal Marine Officer,” he explained. 

The staff at EKC Canterbury College know about Joesph’s goal and arrange for an active Royal Marines Officer to meet with him one to one to discuss the role. He has also visited military barracks as part of his course, where the class participated in leadership tasks like the “sheep and shepherd” exercise, which tested his ability to guide a team under pressure.  

“A lot of this course translates to what I want to do when I turn 18,” he said. 

Joseph currently serves as a student ambassador in the Students’ Union, a role that highlights his commitment to leadership and service. 

“I love leading and being there to take care of a team,” he said. 

Joseph’s journey at EKC Canterbury College is not finished, but his time on his course has set him on a path toward his dream of becoming a Royal Marines Officer.  

Find out more about our Public Services courses and the opportunities available to you at EKC Canterbury College.