Part of the Etc.
Discovering a job that you love has got to be a great feeling.
That is how Hannah feels about her role as a counsellor.
It has taken hard work and determination to get there, but she said: “It has been worth every minute.”
She explained: “To be paid for something that I love doing is surreal. I enjoy going to work every day. I can’t even find the exact words to describe it.”
Like so many others, Hannah’s route to her ideal career started with a decision to make a change.
Previously working in retail, counselling was something she had always thought about but in reality she never dreamed she would get there.
Even when she signed up to study the Level 2 Counselling course at Stockton Riverside College, she saw it as more of an interest than the roots of a career change.
“It was my tutor that mentioned the Access course,” she said.
Deciding to give it a go that opened up the opportunity to move on to a Foundation Degree and then with just one further year of study she could top-up to degree level.
Now Hannah is just a few months away from completing her BA Honours. As for the dream job, that came in November last year.
“It is unbelievable,” she said. “To have a job doing something I enjoy is amazing.”
A mum-of-two, it has set a good example to her children too. “It is showing them that if you want something and work towards it, you can get there,” she said.
Today Hannah is happy to sing the praises of the College and recommends the course to others.
“The College was so supportive,” she said. Even when she had to undergo surgery and feared falling behind, the team helped to keep her on track.
She said: “For me the access course was the perfect route. It set me up for the demands of university study, so it wasn’t a shock when I started.”
Being able to continue her higher education studies in the College environment in partnership with Teesside University was also an added bonus.
“I don’t think people always realise you can study higher education at college, but it makes it more accessible.
“At Stockton Riverside College it is not a massive campus which means that it feels a lot more personal, especially if you are anxious about returning to the education side of things.”
After five years of study, Hannah admitted: “I am dreaming of the day I am not studying, but then I will probably miss it after a year or two.”
One thing she is definitely looking forward to is graduating with her classmates in the summer.
Looking back she said: “I definitely made the right decision, I have had a brilliant time. I wouldn’t change it.”
Click here to find out more about the Access to Higher Education courses at Stockton Riverside College or here for details about our Counselling courses.
That is how Hannah feels about her role as a counsellor.
It has taken hard work and determination to get there, but she said: “It has been worth every minute.”
She explained: “To be paid for something that I love doing is surreal. I enjoy going to work every day. I can’t even find the exact words to describe it.”
Like so many others, Hannah’s route to her ideal career started with a decision to make a change.
Previously working in retail, counselling was something she had always thought about but in reality she never dreamed she would get there.
Even when she signed up to study the Level 2 Counselling course at Stockton Riverside College, she saw it as more of an interest than the roots of a career change.
“It was my tutor that mentioned the Access course,” she said.
Deciding to give it a go that opened up the opportunity to move on to a Foundation Degree and then with just one further year of study she could top-up to degree level.
Now Hannah is just a few months away from completing her BA Honours. As for the dream job, that came in November last year.
“It is unbelievable,” she said. “To have a job doing something I enjoy is amazing.”
A mum-of-two, it has set a good example to her children too. “It is showing them that if you want something and work towards it, you can get there,” she said.
Today Hannah is happy to sing the praises of the College and recommends the course to others.
“The College was so supportive,” she said. Even when she had to undergo surgery and feared falling behind, the team helped to keep her on track.
She said: “For me the access course was the perfect route. It set me up for the demands of university study, so it wasn’t a shock when I started.”
Being able to continue her higher education studies in the College environment in partnership with Teesside University was also an added bonus.
“I don’t think people always realise you can study higher education at college, but it makes it more accessible.
“At Stockton Riverside College it is not a massive campus which means that it feels a lot more personal, especially if you are anxious about returning to the education side of things.”
After five years of study, Hannah admitted: “I am dreaming of the day I am not studying, but then I will probably miss it after a year or two.”
One thing she is definitely looking forward to is graduating with her classmates in the summer.
Looking back she said: “I definitely made the right decision, I have had a brilliant time. I wouldn’t change it.”
Click here to find out more about the Access to Higher Education courses at Stockton Riverside College or here for details about our Counselling courses.