By Wali Khan
6th March 2025
Imagine being 17 years old and instead of hearing that your whole life is ahead of you, you’re told your future is over before it even begins. That was the reality for Sebastian O’Callaghan. Not particularly academically motivated, he achieved four U grades in his first-year mock exams. His college supervisors didn’t see potential, they saw failure. At just 17, he was asked to leave. So, he did.
Many young people are in this same position. Traditional academia isn’t designed for everyone, yet every student is forced to fit within its rigid framework. Too often, young people are convinced that struggling in school means they’re incapable of success. Sure, we’ve all heard of the billionaire entrepreneurs who were poor students but went on to change the world. But for every one of those success stories, there are thousands of others who are left behind, drained into mediocrity by a system that doesn’t recognise their potential.
At the end of 2023, 16.4% of 16-18-year-olds were not in education or training. That number is a wake-up call. We need to have serious conversations about why our education system is failing so many young people. But if you’re in that position right now, Seb’s journey should serve as proof that your story isn’t over. Not even close.
Fast forward to today: Seb is studying economics at the University of Liverpool, averaging a first in his degree. He’s also the President of the Economics Society and is on track for a promising career in finance. But his road to success was anything but easy.
Between dropping out of college and starting university, Seb struggled with depression and a loss of identity. Searching for purpose, he set his sights on one of the toughest challenges out there – the Royal Marines. The odds weren’t in his favor. It’s estimated that out of 26,000 applicants each year, only 400 successfully complete training.
And then there were the doubters, including his own father. But Seb was determined. He endured the grueling training, proved everyone wrong, and earned the coveted Green Beret, becoming a Royal Marines Commando. In our interview, he shared what that experience meant to him. The same student who was told he wasn’t good enough for college had proved to himself that he was more than capable. He just needed to be in the right environment to thrive.
While deployed with the Marines, Seb didn’t stop pushing himself. He self-taught three A-levels and secured an offer to study economics at the University of Liverpool, all despite having only four GCSEs and no predicted A-level grades. That level of determination is difficult to measure by exam scores.
At university, he didn’t just study economics, he became a leader. In our interview, he talked about running for President of the Economics Society and shared some of his campaign tactics.
“Well, I think if anyone read my manifesto, it included a bit of humour… I also made sure to discredit some of the other candidates.”
– Sebastian O’Callaghan
Seb’s story is a testament to resilience and self-belief. If you’ve ever doubted yourself because of academic struggles, let this be your reminder: your potential isn’t defined by a school report card.
For the full conversation, tune into the Liverpool Politics Hour on Spotify and hear Seb talk about his journey, his time in the Marines, and what it really takes to turn things around.
Politics Hour 