11 Stories That Prove Life Is Better After High School

"Turns out multiple-choice tests are not how everyone shows their success."

For a lot of us, high school can be a bit tough – sometimes the worst thing we've had to endure.

Fortunately, what happened in high school doesn't have to determine the rest of your life. In fact, lots of people who totally bombed high school – either socially or academically or both – even found their way into uni. Thanks to some of the awesome alternative entry programs and pathways available today, such as Western Sydney University's The College, not doing well at school doesn't have to stop you from going to uni.

Here are 11 people who struggled in high school and have gone on to create amazing careers and happy lives.

1. Penelope, art therapist and registered nurse

Grey's Anatomy / ABC

"High school wasn’t a place I flourished in. I was a daydreamer and found it difficult to concentrate in class. Falling behind my peers resulted in my feeling anxious, so I’d draw a lot to calm my nerves, especially before exams. Following high school, I studied nursing and found that taking art lessons helped me to relax. After years of working as a registered nurse, I set up an art studio in the mental health facility I worked in and studied for a Master of Art Therapy. This course gave me the foundation of knowledge to help people to use art for self-expression as well as discover their creative side and enhance their personal wellbeing."

2. Ayla, copywriter and creative director

New Girl / Fox

"I had so much anxiety in high school that I changed schools three times – once every two years. I also had a lot of problems concentrating and 'applying myself'. I was more committed to my part-time jobs on the weekends than to actual schoolwork. And because I didn't get the grades to go straight into medicine or law from high school, I felt like a total failure. It turns out I just hadn't found the right things to apply myself to! Now I have two degrees and a job I love that has allowed me to work out of New York, LA, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Tokyo. Plus I've been at the same company for almost five years, which my 17-year-old self would not have believed was even possible."

3. Laura, criminal defence lawyer

Legally Blonde / MGM

"I was severely depressed in high school, which made life – and planning for the future – really tough. As a result, I totally bombed the HSC. I started doing a degree in arts and international studies because I liked history and politics and didn’t know what else to do. My nana always told me I'd be a good lawyer, and after two years of working hard at uni, I decided to transfer into law.

"Now I'm in my mid-twenties, have graduated, and am working for a Community Legal Service as a criminal defence lawyer. I’ve always been aware of how terrible the justice system can be for indigenous people, which sparked my desire to help make a real difference for my indigenous clients. If you'd told me in high school this is what my life would look like, I wouldn't have believed you, but I sure am proud I've ended up here."

4. Natasha, marketing manager and owner of a swimwear label

The Intern / Warner Bros.

"As a teen, I really struggled with myself. I lacked confidence and discipline, found it difficult to focus in class, and didn’t know what I was good at. Because of this, I fell in and out of depression, and my grades fell as a result. After finishing school with some pretty poor grades, I tried doing all sorts of different courses to see if I could find my groove. Having studied and/or worked across design, fashion, marketing, digital media, and front-end web development gave me the experience I needed to start my own business. I always thought I wasn’t good at anything, but it turned out I became skilled in a lot of different areas, which all led to me starting my own swimwear label, Shape of Eve. Life has a way of working out that way; your calling will find you."

5. Simon, general manager

Spider-Man / Columbia Pictures

"When I told my careers advisor at school I wanted to be a journalist, he told me to 'lower my expectations'. Five years later, I was working at The Times in London. I struggled at high school, never really found my tribe, never really had a teacher who believed in me... Back yourself!"

6. Ilaria, associate professor

Hidden Figures / 20th Century Fox

"I had a terrible experience at high school. I constantly felt out of place and like I could never do anything right, no matter how hard I tried. I passed the equivalent of my HSC with a low credit, which would translate into a low ATAR by today's standards. Luckily, I had a fantastic history and philosophy teacher who helped me develop an interest in art history and study. This passion led me to study art history at university, and I graduated with honours with the absolute top mark.

"Now, I am an associate professor at a top university, and I've won lots of awards for teaching and learning. In a funny way, I think that struggling through high school and having good and bad examples of what a teacher should be has helped me become successful."

7. Kate, producer and director

UnREAL / Lifetime Television

"I got kicked out of my high school in year 7 for being an 'adventurous' female. Then I ended up having to go to a private school for bad kids where I got a more hands-on education because there were only 40 kids in the school. Turns out that's all I needed to get good marks. I still didn’t do great in my final exams, which I felt insecure about until I got to university. I ended up graduating with honours and the highest score in the university on my final paper. Turns out high school and multiple-choice tests are not how everyone can show their success – and it absolutely does not need to define your path in life."

8. Laura, marketer and events/fundraising coordinator

The Lizzie McGuire Movie / Walt Disney Pictures

"I very much lacked direction and confidence in my intellectual ability at high school. I really lacked drive and ambition, and I even had to ride the coattails of my friend to get semi-decent results. However, at college, I was definitely able to flourish and find my passion. Because I was able to focus on fashion design, music, and business – areas I hadn’t previously been able to explore – I realised I did have talent and was capable of achieving high results. I went from being an insecure, underachieving kid to a passionate and high-achieving college student, who then went on to study at university.

"Because I did so well at university, I also won a place in a prestigious fashion, media, and communications course in Italy. I’ve now built a career in marketing and high-profile events, working in advertising before making a move to the not-for-profit sector where my work impacts thousands of people in need. And that feels pretty amazing."

9. Olivia, photographer

America's Next Top Model / United Paramount Network

"High school was a pretty miserable time for me. At the time, I was struggling with pretty acute anxiety and crippling chronic pain. I also went to a competitive school, and the girls were NOT nice to me. Graduating high school felt like I had been released from prison. I finally began meeting 'my' people in university, other sensitive and intuitive folks like me who valued honesty, integrity, introspection, and kindness. I was really confused about what I wanted to do for work for a long time, but when I found photography, everything just kind of clicked. It fit me. And it brings me to life. I feel really lucky to get to do something I love so much…and to be an adult, because being a kid was kind of the worst!"

10. Jenny, event manager and business owner

Joy / 20th Century Fox

"Looking back on my high school years, I cringe. I was always disengaged and frustrated with the classes I was forced to take. Before I fully understood what my preferred learning style was, I genuinely believed I wasn’t smart and believed I was a failure. What I didn’t realise until later on was that the school environment wasn’t suited to me and wasn't setting me up for success. I found out in my late twenties that I prefer hands-on learning and love working with people, so events management seemed like a great career for me. I started out by completing a few diplomas, which then helped me get into uni and graduate with a business degree. Now, I've even set up my own business, Jenny Bevis Events. All of the setbacks I faced at high school helped me develop a thick skin and a good self-image, which have been crucial in developing my business."

11. Brooke, creative content producer

Mad Men / Lionsgate Television

"I was far from studious at school. I found myself in detention most Fridays, and I got suspended twice, expelled, and then miraculously let back in! I didn’t put a pen to paper in class, let alone do ANY homework, and I rarely passed subjects outside of drama and English. But once I got to uni, everything changed. I was fully engaged because I was passionate about what I was studying. I found myself getting high marks and even joined a social club. I completed a bachelor of fine arts (majoring in film, TV, and new media production) and am now a creative content producer at one of the world's biggest advertising agencies.

"So to all the kids out there who 'hate' high school – and, trust me, I feel you – don't let that deter you from university! At uni, you finally get a chance to find your passion and unlock your potential. University teaches you that no matter who you are or what you love, there IS a place for you in society and a great career out there for you. And that’s something to look forward to."

Just because you didn't get the marks you needed to get straight into uni doesn't mean you don't belong there. The College at Western Sydney University can help guarantee you entry into your dream uni course so you can start building the career of your dreams today.

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