Still Serving: Holly's Story
Holly always knew she wanted to join the military. At just 16, she passed selection for the Army and soon after began six months of intensive training designed for young recruits. She completed the course successfully and was preparing to move into the next stage of her military career when she was unexpectedly medically discharged. Within the same week, she found herself back at home. Her plans and routine disappeared and, at just 18, the future she had imagined disappeared almost overnight. The sudden change left her struggling with no idea who she was without the Army.
“When I came out of the army, I really struggled with ‘what’s my purpose now?’ That’s all I ever wanted to do my whole life.”
Holly applied for job after job, hearing nothing back. The lack of structure and identity, on top of losing her dream career, began to take a toll on her mental health.
“I felt like a failure. I hated relying on other people and it made me feel like I’d lost everything I’d worked for.”
Realising she needed support, Holly attended a Lifeworks employability course for veterans in Plymouth. Walking in at 18, she initially felt out of place among older veterans with years of experience behind them.
“I was really nervous and had imposter syndrome because I was so young.”
But something shifted. Holly realised that veterans come from all backgrounds, all ages, and all kinds of experiences — and that there is no single definition of what a veteran looks like. Seeing other veterans who had built civilian careers helped her understand there were many paths forward, and the skills she’d gained in the Army still counted. Lifeworks helped her rebuild her confidence, understand her strengths, and talk about her experience with pride.
“It built my confidence massively. After the course, I had three job interviews lined up after months of hearing nothing.”
Holly is now employed, earning her own independence and building skills that will support her future. The stability of work, and support from other veterans, has had a huge impact on her wellbeing.
“It’s given me a direction. I’m no longer relying on other people, which I hated.”
For Holly, Lifeworks was the turning point. It helped her see that leaving the Army wasn’t the end of her story, but the start of a new one.
With a job she enjoys and her confidence rebuilt, Holly can think about the future at her own pace. In the long term, she’s considering whether she might return to service or study at university, possibilities that only felt realistic after Lifeworks helped her get back on track.
Her experience at Lifeworks reminded her that service takes many forms, and that today’s veterans come from every background and every age.
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