Without Fife College I wouldn’t have been given the opportunities that were presented to me and worked alongside the incredible people that were included. I would not and could not be the teacher I am today. I am eternally grateful for Fife College and everything it has done for me.
My name is Derry, I am 23 years old and I studied HND Events Management and BA Honours Business Management. Throughout high school, I always had a passion for Business Education and events. I was motivated by a high school teacher, who inspired me to become a high school teacher myself.
For years, I had a perception that to do well in life meant that I had to go to a university campus to succeed. This view was changed by my previous high school teacher, who told me about his experience into teaching. He explained he became a teacher from starting as a college student and this is where my determination began.
I was in a position where I did not want to move away from Kirkcaldy, personally I enjoyed the social aspects of being around my friends. Financially, I didn’t want to leave my part time job which funded my flat and lifestyle. To me, college was the easiest and most practical pathway to progress after high school.
The HND Events Management course was an experience I will never forget. It was an emotional rollercoaster, trying to get through assessments and long lectures. These aspects of college really allowed me to understand prepare for assessing my learning. The steppingstone from high school to college made me understand and appreciate higher education system for what it is. I was welcomed into the college and it became my safety net for the following four years.
The BA Honours Business Management course was incredibly challenging. This was a choice I was willing to take, and I knew that my previous two years in college had prepared me for this. The course content was interesting, and really allowed my passion for business to be understood. The relationship that was built over the years with the college lecturers is something I will hold forever – and especially something you don’t get at a ‘normal university campuses’.
My favourite part of my college experience was how the four years I spent allowed me to grow, mature and develop as a person. Going from a high school pupil into a normal society was a nerve-wracking experience. I have made life-long friends with fellow students and college lecturers that have heavily impacted my perception of how education should be. I take inspiration from the relationships I hold with my lecturers and for the opportunities they allowed me to undertake.
Can’t forget to mention and appreciate just how wonderful the graduation ceremony was. Seeing my lecturers from the previous 4 years congratulating our hard work and dedication made the biggest impact.
The courses I undertook are the base knowledge of what I teach in a classroom every day. Not only did Fife College prepare me for a future in the education industry – it allowed me to appreciate and understand the hard work that educators dedicate to this profession. My academic skills confidently show through the work I produce.
After leaving Fife College in 2019, I went on to study a Post Graduate Diploma in Education for Business Education, which would train me to become a Business Education Secondary Teacher.
In August 2020, I started as a Business Education teacher where I have now been offered a full-time permanent job with Fife Council.
In any circumstance, I will and do normalise going to college to complete your higher educational studies. The opportunities and convenience are something that many don’t know about.
Without Fife College I wouldn’t have been given the opportunities that were presented to me and worked alongside the incredible people that were included. I would not and could not be the teacher I am today. I am eternally grateful for Fife College and everything it has done for me.
My ambition for the future is firstly to be the best influence and practitioner I can be for the future adolescence sitting in front of me. I will continue to seek passion in the work I produce and (hopefully) enjoy a full career in education.