A teenager from Liverpool has said enrolling on courses to improve his skills helped him to focus his efforts on what he wants to do with his life.
Ashley Collins told Training Journal that he suffered from dyslexia and left school without any qualifications.
He said he was close to slipping into a life dominated by unemployment and crime, something highlighted to him when a case of mistaken identity resulted in him being shot in the face with an airgun.
While he had no connections with gangs in Liverpool, the 18-year-old said the incident focused his attention on what he wanted in terms of a career.
He completed a 12-week Entry 2 Employment course and is now studying for an NVQ level two qualification in bricklaying.
"When I left school, I didn't have a clue what I was going to do. I didn't have any plans for the future … But now I'm looking forward to becoming a qualified bricklayer and getting a job, so I can have a good life," he stated.
He said that without the training, he would probably still be "stuck in a rut".
Mr Collins also signed up to do volunteer work to renovate a property in a bid to get some valuable work experience.
Earlier this year, adult learner Richard Stone told the Derby Telegraph that enrolling on an NVQ course had helped him turn his life around.
While he said the prospect of re-entering the classroom was daunting at first, he asserted that realising he could obtain an NVQ provided a significant boost to his self-confidence.
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