The door to your office swings open, in steps a short man wearing a scruffy suit. He walks in wordlessly as the door shuts behind him, he clearly just wants this to be over and done with.

He takes a seat at your desk, keeping his head lowered and unable to look directly at you, he mumbles, “Look- I know I messed up- I just-“ He makes a futile attempt to defend his actions but ultimately trails off.

You’d read his file, he’d been here before. As a career counsellor you had to help him.