Noah Dougherty, 16, is a student at Cirencester College and hopes to become a journalist. He lives in Stroud.

MY name’s Noah Dougherty and this is my first column for the SNJ.

I hope to give the paper a youth perspective whilst gaining experience for my intended career in journalism - I have just started at Cirencester College, where I am studying media studies, photography, journalism and English language.

I feel that, given that this is something I have going on at the moment, the transition from school to college would be a good topic to start with.

From personal experience, transitions in education are always massively ‘bigged up’.

Sometimes to the extent that it almost becomes an anti-climax when it finally happens.

Even from the age of three, kids are told that the next step is going to be much harder.

This, of course, stresses kids out. They become scared rather than excited about the next step of their life.

It even gets to the point where kids are so nervous about a transition they can’t enjoy it when they get there.

Even if it is much better.

I have a friend who didn’t enjoy the whole of Year 7 because of how hard he had been told it would be. This is not only bad for their education, but bad for their health as well.

Now, the hype surrounding the transition from secondary school to college is ridiculous.

I was lucky enough to have friends who have already experienced that transition and who told me that it was great.

However, some of those who weren’t lucky enough to have this said they were ‘losing sleep’ over the fast-approaching first day.

I think despite everything that is wrong with the education system, scaremongering students is up there with the worst.

College is great – that’s all I really need to say.

Ok, I won’t lie, there is more work – but we’re older and more mature, so what can you expect?

However, you do have free periods too where you can hang out with friends or learn new skills - I have taken up playing cards, table tennis and the frisbee. So, if you don’t know anyone who can tell you that the next stage of your education is not scary and is most likely to be enjoyable, I will.

Secondary school was better than primary school and college is much better than secondary school. I’m not telling you to ignore what others say to you, but take each step as it comes with an open mind and enjoy it.

Oh, and GCSEs aren’t too bad, either!