Alyssa Jones (31) recently won the Most Promising Student in the Department of Care, Sport, Business & Communities at the Forth Valley College Graduation ceremony 2023.
Alyssa from Clackmannan, who graduated with a HNC Childhood Practice, says her time at FVC has given her the confidence to think about going on to further studies to enhance her career options and also shown her that College is not just for school leavers but for mature students too.
She, said: “I chose to study at Forth Valley College because I wanted to do a course that I enjoyed and had passion in. I had never gone to college or university, so for me it was all very daunting at the start, but exciting at the same time as I was studying a subject that was close to my heart. I chose FVC as it was local to me.
“First of all, the facilities at the College are fantastic and so are the services that are open for students. There is free access to brilliant support services such as mental health and study support, both of which I used and found a massive help getting me through my coursework, and being able to continue to support my family at home whilst learning.
“I cannot fault the lecturers. Both my lecturers were amazing, they always had time for you, even if you were not time tabled for a class they were always there to support you. I didn’t feel scared or intimidated by them and always felt I could ask them anything and I would not be judged, or seen as asking a silly question.
“The College has given me the confidence to go onto further studies as I get older to enhance my career options. It has shown me that college is not just for young adults coming out of school, it is there to support us all at different stages of our lives.
“The College was also very helpful in providing recruitment days where a member of Clackmannanshire Council came out and spoke to us all in class about applying for jobs and being interviewed, which gave me even more confidence when I went for interviews.
“I would recommend FVC as I felt each step of the way there was always support in place to help you and you never felt like you were alone. The course I studied was amazing. I enjoyed learning all about children’s development and ways that I, as a practitioner, can support children in their development and would recommend this to people with a passion in childcare.
“The best part of my course was being in a practical placement where I felt I learned so much. I felt I could use what I had learned in the classroom and put it into practice within the Early Learning and Childcare setting I was working in.
“The College offers a safe learning environment where students feel comfortable and listened to. The thing I loved most about my time at College was to have been given the opportunity to learn new skills and feel valued, in how my learning can impact on future children’s learning.”