How college changed my life

Wise words from Lainey McKinlay, Student President 2017/18 at Ayrshire College as she reflects on how college changed her life.

I left school at 16. Although I did pretty well at school I had to really work as I struggled with learning, it wasn’t easy or natural to me, and so I was glad to leave.  I came to college and studied a childcare course. I love children and it seemed the right thing for me to do at the time, however I didn’t complete this course, leaving about halfway through.

At this time my sister had a beauty salon and I started working there helping her with admin and bookkeeping. This was meant to be short term until I decided what I wanted to do. Nine years later, I was still there – I trained and learned how to do the treatments, and I started to realise my abilities. I loved communicating with people from all backgrounds and building relationships with them, and I started to develop confidence in myself.

However it was time for a change, time to do something I really wanted to do. Time to return to college. Although I could have started at HNC level, I chose to begin at NC level as I did not truly believe I could do it. I chose a course called Working with Communities. For years I had been volunteering with kids, youth groups, people with addictions and helping women in need, so I knew this was the line of work I wanted to get into.

My main worries were that I would be the oldest in the class, and that I would not be able to cope with the work. I needn’t have worried. College was nothing like I had expected. Right from day one, I knew I had chosen well. I definitely wasn’t the oldest in the class and many of the other students, like me, had enjoyed various volunteering opportunities and now wanted qualifications to back this up.

I loved being at college. I just wanted to be there and no two days were the same. We learned how to look at situations from different perspectives. But even although I was enjoying my new life, I still had this self-doubt hanging over me, and I started to wobble and think perhaps I should drop out. I used to get in a tizzy when asked to speak out or give a presentation – I just had a mental block. To my surprise I was voted the class rep. It was a pivotal moment – I could not drop out now – I had a responsibility to my classmates. I would just have to get on with it.

Support

In an NC level course, you find many adults returning to education all with their own worries. One thing that helped me was getting the opportunity to be involved with peer mentoring. I loved doing this, both 1-1 and group mentoring. By helping others with study skills, taking notes, showing interest in them, giving words of encouragement and just presenting a friendly face – I helped myself.

Another thing that helped me was asking for help through from the Inclusive Learning team. They helped me realise that I had learned my own coping strategies and they gave me a few more hints and tips which gave me confidence. When I progressed to HNC I also learned that I have dyslexia and a condition called Meares-Irlen, this is a perceptual processing disorder which effects the brains ability to process visual information. Now I understood why I had struggled with learning for all these years. I received the help I needed and it gave me my life back.

I could turn work around quicker and my confidence soared. I realised I was a visual learner and my learning and note taking all aligned with this new knowledge. My whole attitude changed; instead of thinking, ‘I can’t do that’ – I would think, ‘how can I do that?’ I started to love deadlines and structure and became really organised.

During HNC I was able to focus on the areas I was really passionate about. For me, this was capacity building in particular with women and children. My work placement was with the Glasgow City Mission Family Centre. I helped the families to build up their confidence and understand that they mattered…they were worth it!

I became more involved with the Student Association and was elected as woman’s officer. This was a volunteer position. I loved the sense of belonging this gave me. Instead of college just being a learning experience, it gave me a wider college experience.

Inspired by previous Student Presidents, I began to think about running to be the next Student President. I liked the idea of championing further education and the notion of being a local and national voice for other students. I had been accepted at university, but I had a fear of jumping to this level of course. I saw an opportunity for me to gain more skills and confidence. My campaign for presidency was interesting. Up until now, my campaigning was usually for some cause – this time it was all about me. I was asking people to put their trust in me.

I was elected Student Vice President for the first year and this year I have been the Student President. I did not know what to expect. Obviously I had read the job description and was aware of the campaigns I would be leading, and events we would be organising, but I wondered what it would be like to be involved in meetings and ‘behind the scenes’. To be the student voice at that level was a privilege and I began to understand just how much the students are at the heart of every decision made.

I think my legacy as student president will be the event – Reclaim the Night. This started when I was women’s officer and has ran annually since. These events happen across the country and further but East Ayrshire had never had one.  This event raises awareness of gender based violence, marking the beginning of the 16 Days of Action Campaign. I have also enjoyed writing award winning entries for many of the student campaigns and I am very proud to say, one of our students, Loren Gemmell, won the NUS Student of the Year Award 2018. I have loved creating opportunities for students like Loren, to help them develop their skills and confidence through the Student Association activities. Research shows that those who engage with a Student Association are 34% more likely to be successful.

Charitable efforts

A highlight of this past year has been achieving two of my life goals. Passing my driving test and going to Africa! It was a working holiday and I did fundraising to get there.

I wanted to go as I was appalled by the high levels of sexual assaults on women in this particular part of Africa, and learned that if they wore underwear – this was viewed as a sign of wealth, and people would be less likely to be attacked. I collected 4000 new pants and took them with me, they were then distributed in local villages. I expected this would be a one off donation. However, word spread and I have continued to collect and send. They have been transported and distributed by various charity distribution centres, free of charge. I am hoping to establish a charity in the future. When in Africa I delivered sexual consent workshops and what is appropriate behaviour in relationships. Throughout the year, I have also delivered workshops in the College.

What’s next for me? I am going to university to study BA Community Development, entering in year 2 at the University of Glasgow. I did not think I would get here. I am the first person in my family to go to university and I am really proud of my achievement. This is down to the experience and opportunities given to me at college. College has helped me know I can achieve what I want to achieve.

I hope the story of my experience has inspired you to think about coming to college too. My advice if you are still thinking about it is; it’s okay to feel scared or nervous, keep pushing through and go for it – it can change your life.

#NeverTooLateToLearn

#LifeChanging

Awards Achieved

·     NUS Scotland Student of the Year (awarded to student Loren Gemmell)

·     NUS UK Liberation FE Union of the Year Winner

·     NUS UK Liberation Campaign of the Year Winner (Invisible made VisABLE)

·     NUS UK Participation Award (Reclaim the Night)

·     NUS UK Representation and Campaigning Award (Various Engagement and Campaign Activities)

Shortlisted

·     Shortlisted for NUS Scotland Campaign of the Year (#notaluxury.period)

·     Shortlisted for NUS UK People’s category