Aldridge Adult Learning Annual Celebration of Achievement June ‘24
AAL had our annual Celebration event on Wednesday 18th June. There were some fantastic achievements and inspiring stories.
Aja Cox received a special award for outstanding progress. Aja, a non-native speaker from Ghana, had faced an extremely challenging year which included bereavement – she will now study midwifery at Brighton University from September.
Leonie Miller, a busy mother of two, working 12-hour shifts, received distinctions in all units, an astonishing achievement. Here she is receiving a special Certificate of Achievement from Access tutor Michele Ponting.
Serin Alnajar was presented with her Access Learner of the Year certificate, an incredible achievement again for a nonnative speaker who has been studying against the backdrop of family and friends living in Gaza. Serin has been on quite a learning journey with AAL, successfully studying GCSE Maths 2019, Functional Skills English in 2020, GCSE English in 2021 GCSE English, Essential Digital Skills in 2022 2023 and Access to University in 23/24. Serin will now go on to Brighton University where we know she will continue to thrive.
Two AAL alumni, Kez and Lance came to share their progress, both with inspirational stories of triumph over adversity. Kez, for example, is eager to share her journey to inspire others. Kez has progressed from her access course at AAL, to a degree at Brighton University, then on to a master’s and is now studying a PHD in the subject broadening the conception and use victim narratives within the Criminal Prosecution Service.
Speaking to Principal Nick Fenn, Kez said “As a child and young person, my narrative from the people I loved was that I wasn’t intelligent enough, and that I should settle for what was expected for people like me. The access course changed all of that. I met tutors who had passion and believed in me, encouraged me and challenged me. They gave me the ability to believe in myself and so now, with my PHD, I am fighting for those who like me, began with nobody believing in them”
In AAL we are often in awe of the journey of our learners and feel humbled to be a part of their magnificent stories or resilience, determination and growth. This was a very special event indeed!
