Kilmarnock Graduation 2019: Student of the Year for Care
I will miss attending college but I will always be thankful to all staff who were involved in shaping me into the person I am today
Stephanie Bevan, HNC Social Services
Before I came to college, I volunteered in my local community café as well as helping to run local youth groups.
I was always keen to learn and gain the skills I would require to work in the Care industry. I think it was being there for my Nan that inspired me to follow my dreams and go to college to gain the qualifications that I needed.
At the start of my college journey I never imagined I would successfully complete my first year, never mind going on to pass my HNC Social Services. I ended up gaining a lot of confidence from my peers and with support from my lecturers, I really started to believe in myself.
I enjoyed the experience of doing a placement with North Ayrshire Council Home Care and gained many practical skills in the workplace. So much so, that at the end of my placement I gained an interview to work for the Council and was offered the job!
When I first started, our class project involved making a community quilt, each with our own unique square which represented where we live. The quilt is now on display at the college and is a great reminder of where my college journey started and where I am now, and all that I have achieved.
I feel honoured to have won this award and it has made all the hard work worth it. It has been an absolute privilege and has given me a real sense of achievement.
I currently work with the council doing home care and enjoy this very much. I work with a lot of amazing people and to be able to put a smile on someone’s face by the end of a visit makes my job so worthwhile.
My plans for the future are to go to university to achieve even more and push myself. For now, I am more than happy to continue working as this is the first time I have felt really good about myself within a job.
The support I received at Ayrshire College has been incredible and I absolutely loved being a student there. I will miss attending college but I will always be thankful to all staff who were involved in shaping me into the person I am today, with a bright future ahead.
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