Watching the annual ritual of the opening of the A-level results envelope on the news, I realised that this year is 25 years (ZOMG!) since I went through the same process. I wasn't one of those jumping up and down with excitement. I wasn't one of those going "I just know I'm going to fail" and then whooping with joy with three 'A's. No, I knew I was not going to do "well" and I was right. I hadn't done any work for two years - I'd had a fantastic time, fallen madly in love, gotten very very drunk but I hadn't read large parts of the set texts, and hadn't practiced writing essays much so when I got into the exam hall I was busking all the way. I got an 'A' for General Studies and then two 'D's and and 'E' – not even enough for the fairly low offer I'd got from Aberystwyth of something like two 'B's and a 'C' So I had to change my plan.

To be honest, it was never really my plan - it was mainly the plan of my teachers, who, shall we say, had a different perspective on the risk of not getting qualifications than I did. Seeing those young people this year opening their envelopes, it was also clear that the idea of planning your career and 'A' levels being a crucial part in fulfilling your plan is still the preferred way of doing things.

"Have a 5 year plan" "What do you see yourself doing in 5 years" I'm more convinced than ever that these are ridiculous stances and questions especially as social, cultural, technological and economic change accelerate.

In 1983, I was leaving school, my plan was to go to drama school - by 1988 I would no doubt be regularly travelling between Stratford, London and LA.

In 1988, I was an actor in regional rep, my plan was to carry on with that thank you, by 1993 I'd probably be settled in to regular work, a bit of telly, an ad or two to pay the bills while I did more artistically worthwhile stuff.

In 1993, I was finishing my first year at university, I now had two kids, the economy was a very different place, we weren't booming any more, it was time to sit our recesssion and get a proper job. I assumed my career would now be in computing, probably software development

In 1998, I had a permanent job in a government body, with pension, career path (which I was already zooming along in) By 2003 and probably be an Associate Director, earning pots of money, telling people what to do, you know the sort of thing.

In 2003, I'd left my job and was working in a higgledy-piggledy way consulting on this that and the other and trying to find my blogging voice. Which kinda got me here.

Thing is, all my sixth-form peers set off on their university plans and all ended up in totally unexpected places. But for every one of us it all makes beautiful sense in retrospect. I can rationalise now why I needed to take the turns I did, but at the time, it was all unknown and open. And it still is - so if you opened your envelope this week and didn't get what you "needed" please don't let it get you down, just think about what you want to do next. And do it.