Age: 24
Hometown: Halton, Lancaster
What course are you studying at Kendal College?
Access Health & Human Sciences Pathway
Why did you choose this course?
I hadn’t been in education for 5 years, and the course suited what I wanted to do in my future career… it gave me the opportunity to go to university and become a paramedic. I looked at other colleges, as I live in Poulton, but the course and structure were not the same, and the atmosphere wasn’t the same as at Kendal. Also, lots of people recommended Kendal beforehand. It’s worth the extra travelling!
Is College like you had expected. If not, why?
I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it would be a lot of work! Meeting new friends and working with other people, that you wouldn’t normally meet in your daily life, has been really good. The amount of help you get has been amazing from the tutors. They don’t treat you like a child at school… they understand you are an adult with a life and responsibilities outside of the course as well.
We have 2 days a week in college and homework 8-12 hours a week. If you manage your time well, you can get a lot of this work done in your 2 college days. As a mature student, you have to want to do it and be organised to have a full-time job and a family. The volume of work was explained and honest about it at the interview. We explored if I had time to get it all done in my life and it was quite clear it would be okay.
What is the teaching style like on your course?
I’ve lived the other side of the world and done various courses, but the teaching style here is the best I have ever had! You discuss things as a group, and the teacher leads us in the right direction, which helps with the learning process. They tell us what we need to know and don’t over complicate it and waste time.
What are you hoping to do after College?
I’ve applied to 5 universities – I’ve got offers from 4 and waiting to hear back from the 5th. I’m going to London to be a paramedic at St. George’s Hospital where I have been offered a place already.
If you could give one piece of advice to people considering College, what would it be?
You don’t realise your potential until you have started the course, you don’t realise how far you can actually go until the tutors show you how good you actually are and how far you can go. A lot of people on my course have come in with low confidence about academic writing, and the tutors showed us that we can do it and we are good at it. We look in class at how much we have already done, and it’s amazing! It all sinks in as we talk about it outside College. It’s awesome. It’s a nice comfortable environment to learn in, you can take it in your stride.
