Parading through the grounds of Kirkleatham Walled Garden, higher education students from Redcar and Cleveland College took their moment to shine this week.
A graduation ceremony, shared with family and friends, saw 60 adult learners pick up higher education certificates, HNCs, HNDs, foundation and full honours degrees.
“It is always a spectacular day to see our students out in force in caps and gowns at the heart of our community,” said Redcar and Cleveland College’s principal Jason Faulkner.
“These are adults with so many other commitments in their lives, whether that be family, work, or both, and yet they have made the commitment and given the time and effort to achieve their personal goals.”
Among those celebrating their achievements, and each other’s, was mum and daughter, Mandie and Courtney.
Both support workers from Skelton, the duo picked up their Level 4 Certificates in Health and Social Care after a year juggling their studies alongside the demands of work.
Mandie, who is also celebrating turning 50 this week, said: “You do have to adjust and it is hard work, but if you want to better yourself you have to put the effort in and know that it’s not forever.”
Studying alongside her youngest daughter, the mum-of-three and grandmother-of-four said: “Having Courtney there has helped, certainly with the computer side. It was all pen and paper when I was at school!”
Courtney, 22, added: “No one realised we were mum and daughter at first, we did say but everyone thought we were just joking.”
Having both previously completed the Access to Higher Education in Health course at the college, the pair hadn’t planned to be in the same class. But Courtney explained her mum has always been an inspiration when it came to her own career choices.
She said: “Seeing the positive impact she has made on people’s lives all of my life is something I look up to.”
Both now have deferred university places, with Mandie planning to study social work and Courtney hoping to pursue a future career as a paramedic.
Of getting to wear their caps and gowns together, Mandie said: “It was lovely to be able to share this and it eased the nerves.”
Courtney added: “My mum would have always been here, but it was nice to be able to do this with her.”
Lenny, 20, from Eston, was also among those marking his milestone moment. Completing his HNC in electrical engineering, he said: “It is a nice feeling to be graduating after all the years of hard work and effort you have put in to get to your end goal.”
Starting out as an electrical apprentice at PD Ports at 16, he started learning the ropes of his trade at NETA Training, before progressing to a level 3 qualification and HNC at Redcar and Cleveland College, part of the Teesside University College Partnership.
“It has been four years of study, alongside working, but it has been well worth it,” said Lenny, who in the summer was named Redcar and Cleveland College’s higher education student of the year.
Now with a permanent position as a maintenance electrician with PD Ports, he said: “I know that I have been very lucky to be given the opportunities I have. It’s brilliant to work for a company that supports your progression, after all my boss started as an apprentice, as did my boss’s boss and also his boss before him!”
Of his time at college, Lenny added: “I have really enjoyed it and my tutors have been brilliant, they are so supportive, that makes a massive difference, and I can’t thank them enough.”
