Richard came to Ayrshire College looking for a change in his life after a friend recommended the College following their own positive experience. His time at College gave him the opportunity to develop new skills, build his confidence and learn from lecturers with extensive industry experience.

One of Richard’s biggest challenges came when he was struggling with an assessment and couldn't work out where he was going wrong. Rather than giving up, he revisited websites his lecturer had recommended earlier in the course and spent time working through the problem until he found the solution.

His perseverance paid off, and he went on to successfully complete his studies and receive an Award for Excellence at Level 6 – one of his proudest achievements.

Richard particularly valued learning from lecturers who were able to draw on their own professional experience and tailor that knowledge to support students.

Lecturer Lynsey O'Connor had a particularly significant impact on his journey, going above and beyond to support Richard and his classmates. From helping with university and apprenticeship applications to offering practical advice about working in technology, Lynsey helped Richard prepare for the next stage of his journey.

Richard leaves Ayrshire College with more than just coding skills. His experience has strengthened his presentation and teamwork abilities, while the opportunity to learn something new and interesting every day helped keep him engaged throughout his studies.

And there was certainly never a dull moment at College. One memorable day saw Richard arrive late to class after getting distracted by some llamas outside the College!

Richard is continuing his education at Glasgow Caledonian University, where he is entering third year of a Computing degree.

His ambition is to build an exciting and rewarding career as a developer in the technology industry.

Give it a try! You might regret not taking the chance while you could.

Richard's college journey has been knowledgeable, engaging and fun, and he is grateful to all the teaching staff who supported him along the way.