Taking to the stage in cap and gown was a special moment for Redcar mum Mariessa.

“It meant such a lot both to me and my family,” she said. “It was always going to be emotional.”

The 41-year-old from Redcar was among 60 students to graduate from Redcar and Cleveland College this week.

Picking up her BA Hons in Education and Training, for her it marked the culmination of a promise made 20 years ago.

She explained: “I put going to university on hold after my dad died in 2000.  I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind. 

“I made a promise to myself then that I would do it one day; I just didn’t realise it would take another 20 years.”

Describing her mum and dad as her inspiration, Mariessa said it was seeing her dad Michael’s battle with kidney failure and diabetes when she was young that motivated her ambition to want to help others.

Seeing him go on to lose his legs and thumbs, she said: “I had always wanted to work with children but that made me want to go that bit further and work with those with special educational needs.”

Despite putting university on hold, she achieved that career goal, going on to work in early years.  But it wasn’t until her children were that bit older that she felt able to pick up where she left her own education.

Completing her Foundation Degree in Early Years Sector Endorsed at Redcar and Cleveland College, Mariessa got her first taste of graduation last year.  She said: “That was really special and a massive achievement.” 

But this year, watched by her mum, husband, sister and aunt, in the crowd, she added: “To finally achieve my degree, that was always the goal!”

Now working at Redcar and Cleveland College as a progression coach herself, Mariessa is helping support young people with their studies.

And her own educational journey doesn’t end there as she is now embarking on her PGCE.

Selected to be valedictory speaker for the graduating class of 2022, she said: “It was nerve-wracking, but I did it.  My mum and dad have always been my inspiration.  This was for them.”