returning to
College after a
Six-Year Hiatus
By Emma Jackson
(Access to Life Science)
An Ayrshire College student has
swapped stacking shelves for a
fulfilling career after completing an
HND in Visual Communication at
the Ayr Campus.
an NQ in Visual Communication, and
went on to complete an HNC in Visual
Communication in 2009.
Returning to the College at 25, he explains
how it felt to come back to education as a
mature student.
Callum Kelly, 26 from Ayr, has begun
Callum said “When I returned last year,
working for textile print and design
I thought college would be daunting as
company Lanfine in
I had been completely out
Darvel, after working in
I became
of education for the past six
retail for almost a decade.
stagnant and years. However the support I
Callum explained what
got from my lecturers made
his motivation was for
knew
I
needed
the transition easier. “
changing his career and
to make a
returning to college.
“At first I kept working
change.
He said “Honestly, I hated
my job. It wasn’t a job
that held my attention
for very long as each day was the same. I
wasn’t challenged.”
alongside my course, but
eventually made the decision
to leave my job to focus on
building a new career and began doing
some freelance graphic design work.”
“I became stagnant and knew I needed
to make a change. I have always been
interested in design and enjoyed
printmaking. So I decided to return to
college, choosing to complete a HND in
Visual Communication.”
“My course was great, and all of the
modules I studied opened doors to
possible career paths. I particularly enjoyed
experimental printmaking and web design.
I also had fun completing my Graded Unit.”
Callum started his journey with Ayrshire
College back in 2008 when he completed
10
“I brought some friends along to the end of
year show and they were so impressed with
the calibre of work that students at Ayrshire
College had produced. I’m happy to say
THE STUDENT VOICE EDITION 7