The stage was set for students celebrating their graduation at Stockton Globe this week.
The spotlight fell on 78 adult learners from Stockton Riverside College who, dressed in caps and gowns, officially marked their academic achievements.
For many, including mums, dads and even grandparents, the event was the culmination of months or years of hard work, and often an ambition fulfilled.
Executive principal Lesley Graham said: “Each and every one of our higher education students truly deserves the recognition given to them today.
“For our adult learners, we know, returning to education can be a bit of a juggling act around the commitments of work and family life.
“Being here today is testament to the hard work put in, the commitment shown, the enthusiasm to succeed and, no doubt, resilience to see it through. For all of that we are incredibly proud.”
Angie was among the students taking to the stage this week. The grandmother-of-two from Ingleby Barwick achieved a foundation degree in counselling.
Dressed in her cap and gown, she joked: “It all feels very surreal, at my age it is not the sort of thing you expect to be doing.”
First signing up to a level 2 counselling course after deciding to take a change in direction after lockdown, Angie has continued to work her way up through the levels and even secured a job as a counsellor with ARCH Teesside on the back of her work placement.
Now planning to top up her foundation degree to a full honours degree with a further year of study, she said: “I never thought I would get a job as a result of this in a million years.”
Classmate Anne also picked up her foundation degree this week. Being dyslexic, she said: “I never dreamed I would make it to university, it’s not something I managed first time round.”
Working in a school the Thornaby mum said she had long admired the work of the school counsellor, and at 48 she decided to learn more.
Studying part-time at the college and working her way up through the levels, like Angie, Anne now plans to complete the BA honours degree.
Feeling proud of herself in her foundation degree gown, she said: “There is something really magical about seeing someone benefit from counselling, it is such a great thing to be able to share.”
Stockton Riverside College offers a selection of higher education courses including higher education certificates, foundation and full honours degrees, many delivered in partnership with Teesside University.
