Vicky always had a passion for working with children and wanted to support their development and be a positive influence in their lives. Becoming a parent strengthened that passion and inspired her to turn it into a career.

Her time at Ayrshire College gave her the knowledge, skills and confidence to take that next step and become an Early Years Practitioner.

Returning to education wasn't always easy. Vicky faced moments when she doubted herself, while balancing college, assessments, placement and family life.

Rather than giving up, she learned to believe in herself, ask for support when she needed it and keep going when things became difficult.

Her proudest achievement was completing her Early Years qualification and securing her role as an Early Years Practitioner.

I never gave up and put my heart and soul into everything that was given to me.

For Vicky, finding out that she had successfully gained her qualification was a moment she will never forget. After two years of hard work, sleepless nights and balancing her studies with family life, she finally saw all her determination pay off.

She credits her lecturers, family and the friends she made at college for helping her through the challenging moments and celebrating the successes along the way.

Most importantly, college helped Vicky overcome her self-doubt and believe in what she could achieve.

Vicky is continuing her role as an Early Years Practitioner at Hurlford ECC until May 2027, with the hope of securing a permanent position and continuing to develop her career.

In the future, she hopes to become a confident, experienced and passionate practitioner, taking on new responsibilities while continuing to make a positive difference to children and families.

Go for it.

Vicky's advice to anyone considering returning to education is simple: believe in yourself, even when you don't feel completely confident, and push yourself outside your comfort zone.

For her, the journey has been challenging, rewarding and life-changing.