Age 16-18
“The course guided me to rebuild myself by gaining self-confidence and to work on my strengths and weaknesses.”
Jyotsna, 42, was a full-time mum when she studied the Education and Training Level 3 Award course at Hackney Campus. She is now a qualified teacher and says she is grateful to every member of staff at New City College because they all contributed in one way or another towards her achievement.
As an adult student, did you settle back into education easily?
The transition from being a full-time mother to being a student was not easy as it was 18 years since I last did any academic study! I took my degree back in 2005 in India where I completed my Masters in Business Administration with specialisation in Marketing and Human Resources. Before I enrolled on the course, so many thoughts were going through my mind such as, will I fit in, will I be able to complete the work, is this the right course for me… and so on! But I am so glad I did it. I met some great people and it has opened up so many opportunities for me.
Tell us something about yourself
I got married in the same year that I gained my Masters degree – 2005 – and I am now a mother of two. I kept my knowledge alive by supporting my children with their homework and home tutoring on my strongest subject area, mathematics.
Did the NCC teachers help and support you when you needed it?
Yes – the teachers were all brilliant and very supportive. One, Mentesnot, was so patient with each and every student, motivating everyone to speak up and most importantly treating every student equally and fairly.
What did you find interesting and what did you learn on your course?
Everything about the course is interesting! The most interesting thing that I have learned though, is to be yourself no matter where you are starting from in life. The course guided me to rebuild myself by gaining self-confidence and to work on my strengths and weaknesses.
How did New City College help you?
NCC has a fantastic framework. The tutors were more like mentors to me and all the support staff were so welcoming and friendly, even people like the receptionists, serving assistants at the canteen, librarians and security staff. They all contributed towards my achievement.
If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 15-year-old self?
I would say, focus, focus, focus on your strengths and stop overthinking what others might think of you.
Who is your role model?
I think every successful person is a role model as you get to learn something from each person. However, if I have to name one, it is my father.
What is the biggest change you wish to see in the world?
My thoughts on the changes I would like to see in the world come from the words of Mahatma Gandhi: ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world’. So, I believe every individual should be considerate and tolerant to each other, no matter what. This small step towards change will lead to a better world.
What values are most important to you?
The most vital values for me are hard work and honesty in the work you do. Also most importantly, always be humble and respectful towards others.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in life?
I have a belief in life that ‘be good and the good will come back to you’.
If you had three wishes, what would they be?
The first would be to lead a happy and satisfied life, the second would be that I was able to balance my professional and family life, and the third would be financial freedom.
Any advice for other adult students?
New City College has provided me with a platform to take my skills to the next level and I would encourage others thinking about adult study to go for it! I always followed the principle of taking one small step at a time, as taking small steps will lead to progress and satisfaction to yourself.
What are your next steps?
New City College is a wonderful place to learn and achieve your desired results. I loved the college so much I have stayed here and I am now working as a teacher of ESOL and enjoying a career I have always dreamed of. A next step for me is always to grab the opportunities that come my way and to gain experience from them.
