“I joined the sea cadets around 2015, when I was about 13, and absolutely loved being a cadet,” Jasmine said.

“I worked my way up through the ranks from new entry to leading cadet. I attended courses, visited naval bases, took part in parades and Duke of Edinburgh, and met lots of new people. I have so many experiences to remember.”

In 2019, Jasmine was nominated by her commanding officer to become the Mayor of Macclesfield’s Cadet, attending civic events and parades in a ceremonial support role.

When she turned 18, Jasmine moved from being a cadet to becoming a member of staff. She is now a junior training officer, overseeing cadets aged 10 to 12 and planning their training and lessons. She is also a qualified first aid instructor and holds a safety boat qualification.

“I help the younger cadets learn and develop, and I’m a first aid instructor. I also have a safety boat qualification and an interest in drill, which I’m hoping to develop further by becoming a drill instructor.”

Alongside her work with the cadets, Jasmine is pursuing a career she has dreamed of since she was young.

“I’ve always dreamed of working for the ambulance service and helping people. Becoming an EMT is the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said.

“The 14-week training was hard and fast-paced, with four weeks of blue-light training at the end, but it was amazing. I met some great people and learnt so much.”

Jasmine is now working towards completing her portfolio and passing her end-point assessment, with the long-term aim of becoming a paramedic.

“I’m incredibly proud to be both a sea cadet instructor, helping children learn and grow, and an EMT, helping people when they need it most.

“Both roles allow me to make a difference in people’s lives, develop valuable transferable skills and use my passion for supporting others in different ways.”