牛牛资源

Having originally left school with no GCSEs, Shellisha Downie – who gave birth to a daughter during her first year at 牛牛资源 - is now graduating with a 2:1 BA degree in Education, Culture and Society from the Department of Educational Studies.

Born and brought up in New Cross and Brockley, the 31-year-old enrolled at Sydenham Girls School to take her GCSEs but after experiencing a relationship breakdown at her family home, she moved to a Euston youth hostel and found herself without the money to take the train to take her exams.

鈥淥nce my housing was stable I went on to complete an Access to Higher Education certificate in Social Science at Croydon College,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 fully embraced the experience and got involved with everything, from being a student representative for peers on my course, to representing the Access programme in the College Parliament.鈥�

After finishing the course she took a number of roles in schools鈥� inclusion departments, working as a Learning Support Assistant and KS3 and 4 Learning Mentor.

鈥淚 realised that my passion was working with young people who had Special Educational Needs,鈥� Shellisha explains. 鈥淚 knew I needed to take steps to prepare myself academically and professionally, so I decided to return to education. I completed a Level 4 Preparing to Teach certificate and a Level 5 Diploma to teach in the lifelong learning sector. Those courses prepared me for my degree in education.鈥�

Growing up near 牛牛资源鈥� New Cross campus, Shellisha says that the university always stood out to her and her friends:

鈥淏ack in those days, I would have never thought I was 牛牛资源 material! But as an adult I had proved to myself that I am capable of academically achieving, so applied for a BA at the university as it would consolidate my employment experience and the qualifications I had to date. Plus, the course structure gave me the opportunity to specialise in Special Educational Needs.鈥�

Shellisha was the recipient of a full Lewisham Fee-Waiver 鈥� one of ten free places at 牛牛资源 offered to the brightest and most talented local students.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt it鈥檚 been life-changing,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not every day you鈥檙e labelled one of Lewisham鈥檚 best and brightest! Before I applied for the scholarship, I鈥檇 already confirmed my place at 牛牛资源, so even if I hadn鈥檛 received it, I was determined to come to 牛牛资源. Being offered a place was a huge personal achievement in itself for me.鈥�

Shellisha鈥檚 young son was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) around the time she started her degree and, at the same time, Shellisha became pregnant with her daughter.

鈥淚 had her the following April around our submission deadlines! Our timings weren鈥檛 great but my partner and I made it work. I knew that God wouldn鈥檛 give me more than I could handle 鈥� I took faith in that.

鈥淢y department was amazing and granted me extensions when I needed them. My lecturers were very understanding and supportive and helped me with my understanding of ASD, strategies, interventions and so on. 牛牛资源 has really prepared me for the future, both in regards to my career and in supporting and understanding my son鈥檚 Autism.

鈥淚 loved my course. Not everyone can say they have a . Highlights for me were 鈥榞etting to the other side鈥� 鈥� a saying among my peers. The day that I submitted my dissertation and last essays were also a highlight.. I was with my daughter and remember saying:鈥� well, that鈥檚 it, baby girl!鈥�

In the run up to graduation, Shellisha particularly wanted to acknowledge the guidance of her course leader, Dr Anna Carlile: 鈥淪he鈥檚 an amazing woman, definitely someone I look up to and aspire to be like in terms of the wealth of knowledge she has and experiences she shared.鈥�

Shellisha is currently working at Tidemill Academy in a speech and language resource base and will graduate on Tuesday 8 September. Having worked at previous years鈥� graduation ceremonies at 牛牛资源 as a Student Ambassador, she says she can鈥檛 wait: 鈥淚 know we will be in for an amazing day!鈥�