Annual Report 2012 - Highbury College

Cleopatra Sillah
Access to Higher Education & Social Work
I worked as a support worker and later a manager in care homes for 18 years but
always felt I had more to give, which was why I applied to join the Access course.
Just before I started the course I went to Zimbabwe to see my mother, who is 76.
I hadn’t seen her since 1991 and I was shocked to learn what a struggle life was
for her. I discovered how little she has and also saw how she looks after my sister
who has HIV.
When I returned to England I found that I’d lost my confidence. I felt guilty and
thought I should be caring for my family. I have a young daughter with special
needs and worried that I should be giving her more of my time too.
I thought about this a lot, worried about it, and suddenly I realised that the best
way I could help my family was to better myself and achieve my potential.
The first few months of the Access course were very hard - I hadn’t been in
education for 20 years and everything was a struggle. The lessons were hard, and
I wasn’t good at IT - everything was difficult. But the staff at Highbury were so
helpful, so supportive! The Library staff helped me with my study skills and
computing, the tutors were clear and understanding. The head of Access was my
rock - I’m not sure she knows how much she helped me, but she was so kind and
encouraged and pushed me to do what I needed to do.
There was one tutor who was really tough with me in a subject I found difficult.
She kept on pushing me. I thought: I am struggling so much and she should be
giving me better marks. I almost hated her! But now I thank her for her toughness
because she made me a better person and helped me to progress.
I’m so proud of Highbury College. I learned so much at Highbury that when I
started my BSc (Hons) in Social Work at Portsmouth University I was ready for it.
When I finish my Degree I’ll be able to use my voice more constructively in the
Care sector and really make a difference.
I’d like to say THANK YOU to EVERYONE at Highbury - all the staff at the College
are AMAZING!