Determination and direction: Former student Isaac Kamidiora on finding his North Star

How to find your way when you don’t have the exam results you wanted? For one former CCC student, disappointment on results day was the catalyst for change.

As a youth activist, Isaac Kamidiora advocates for stronger youth participation in decision-making and policymaking. He serves as Chair of Springpod’s Future Makers Advisory Board, as one of the youngest members of the EY Foundation’s Youth Voice Forum, and as a Youth Advisor to novi FUTURES.

Alongside this, Isaac represents youth voices across high-profile platforms, delivering speeches at the House of Commons, the Council of Europe, and the Institute of Student Employers. He is also a presenter and a 2025 BAFTA Young Presenter Finalist, having hosted award shows such as Springpod’s The Shift and presented content for global organisations including LinkedIn.

But a year ago, former Capital City College (CCC) student Isaac’s career was just beginning. Following a disappointing GCSE results, Isaac worked hard to succeed in his resits and began a T Level course in Media at CCC. He credits his time at CCC as being influential in helping him find his passion for youth advocacy.

Tell us about your post-GCSE education journey?

It began in 2024 when I got my GCSE results — they were below the national average. But I made a promise to myself that I was going to turn it around.

At the time, I was really interested in media, so I enrolled onto a T Level at CCC. The course gave me experience and really helped me develop my identity as a creative.

But I still felt I had more to give academically, so I started reaching out to sixth forms. I did eventually get an offer from my current sixth form, but the condition was that I’d need to resit my English GCSE and improve my grade.

There were moments where I questioned my abilities, but I’m grateful for the ups and downs that experience gave me. I’ve just sat my first A Level mocks and came out with an A*, an A, and an A, which shows that those early labels don’t define where you end up.

What changed things for you?

I got into a programme through CCC where my teacher recommended me for Career Ready, a programme where I was matched with a mentor and got a paid two-week internship at a major real estate firm.

That played a huge role in rebuilding my confidence and mindset. Career Ready opened my eyes to a pathway I’d never thought was achievable for me before.

How did you get into public speaking?

While at CCC, my T Level class came second place in a competition. There was a really cool opportunity to be on a panel with the Mayor of London, and I offered to speak.

I loved it. It felt incredible to share my perspective in a room full of important people and feel like my views were being valued. I even got to network with people afterwards and was offered another opportunity on the spot. Since then, I haven’t stopped.

You were a finalist for the 2025 BAFTA Young Presenters competition. What was that like?

One of the best experiences of my life. Being at CCC was amazing for getting me on my feet and connecting to the organizations that I work with now. While I was there, they took us to BAFTA for a taster day, where they were also promoting their Young Presenter competition, so I filmed a self-tape and sent it off.

Then I got an email from BAFTA saying I’d made it to the finals. It was the first time I’d ever reached the final of anything, let alone a national competition with over a thousand applicants.

Even though I didn’t win, I got so much out of it. This led to opportunities like hosting a national awards show and presenting content for LinkedIn’s global Jobs on the Rise report.

So even if you don’t “win”, the platform you can build from putting yourself out there can be just as powerful.

You’ve spoken in Parliament twice. Tell us about that.

I’ll always remember a few months earlier, walking past Parliament on Westminster Bridge with a friend and saying, “I’m going to be in there by the end of the year.”

The first time I was invited to speak, it was for a five-minute speech where I spoke about my journey and why real-world skills matter. From being someone who got poor GCSE grades, to be delivering a speech in the seat of power in my country, it genuinely was one of the best moments of my life.

I was later selected for a roundtable discussion with a Lord on identity, race and being a minority in Britain. From that conversation, I was chosen to speak at the Council of Europe, bringing together parliamentarians from across the continent. These experiences pushed me to start advocating for youth inclusion at the highest levels of decision-making.

What is your advice for other young people?

First, you have to be your biggest cheerleader. Sometimes you’ll be the only person who believes in your potential. You need to back yourself before anyone else does, because doors don’t open for people who play small about who they are or what they’re capable of.

Secondly, never take “no” as the final answer. You genuinely never know what can come from a follow-up email, or simply asking again.

Finally, give yourself time. There’s so much pressure to have everything figured out, but it’s okay if you don’t yet. You will find your North Star, just give yourself time. Mine has always been knowing that I have something to give to the world, whatever form that takes.

If you’re thinking about your next step post-GCSE, CCC can offer you a range of pathways. Whether you are interested in A Level courses at our Sixth Form in Angel or our A Level courses at our King’s Cross campus, exploring T Level courses or apprenticeships, there are options to suit students of all backgrounds.

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