Ashley James was "miserable" doing jobs she hated to make ends meet

She wrote: "Don't let your age or fear be an excuse for stopping you from doing what you want in life. Let this year be a reset button for you and DREAM BIG ... I've had a few jobs since I graduated from uni in 2009 (and even more jobs pre-uni: my mum had me chambermaiding from about 13, and I've worked in retail, been a lifeguard, a waitress, a cleaner etc!). And they've all been GOOD jobs and opportunities. It's what kept me in each of them for at least a year, because I felt I should be grateful for having a good job. ... But I was miserable."

And Ashley has urged others to not do what she did and take the leap to change their career and study and start again.

She added: "I HATED my job. I saw adulting as doing a job you hated to make ends meet and do fun things on the weekend. But at 25 I decided to quit to pursue my dream of presenting. I had saved £2000, had zero industry contacts, and zero experience. So I got grafting. I moved in with a friend who charged me £400 a month rent, and did promo work (until I started being recognised during MIC) to scrape by each month. I didn't earn money for a few years and I missed out on all the holidays and experiences my friends were doing. But I had a dream and I needed it to make it happen. Now at 33 I get to say that I LOVE my job (even though it's a lot slower due to Covid). I get to DJ all over the world, I get paid to go on TV shows I love, and I'm forever evolving my interests: I'm studying to be an empowerment coach and have a few secret projects on the way. Even now, it's not too late to study and start again."