Maths teacher at school said she was stupid but now she is Darlington College's Student of the Year

Vicky Neeson was presented with the principal’s top award at a celebration event at Darlington College.

Vicky, 30, of Catterick, was also presented with the Outstanding Student for Access to Higher Education after completing the Darlington College programme in September 2015.

She said: “I never expected this at all but it just goes to show that if you really want something and you work hard it makes it all worthwhile.

“I always wanted to be a nurse but not having a maths qualification held me back – but not anymore.”

Told by a maths teacher at school that she was stupid Vicky became terrified of raising her hand in lessons.

“I just couldn’t get maths,” said Vicky. “The teacher’s comment just made it worse so I just stopped trying.

“I failed my maths GCSE and without it I couldn’t get onto a nursing course so when I left school I became a healthcare assistant in a nursing home.”

A number of careers followed over the years before a stay in hospital and a chance conversation with a nurse led her to enrol at Darlington College.

“The nurse told me that she had studied an access course at college and at that moment it was as if a light bulb just went off in my head,” said Vicky.

“I came to Darlington College and they had exactly the course I needed but my heart sank when I knew that I’d have to do my GCSE maths again.

“I literally cried for the first three weeks of maths lessons but the tutors were so good, kind, patient and really helped me to grasp things that I never ever thought I could – and when I eventually passed my GCSE with a C grade I cried again but this time with joy.”

As well as passing her maths GCSE Vicky also produced outstanding work on her higher education access course and has now progressed onto her dream adult nursing degree at Teesside University.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and I’m so proud to be finally doing what I’ve wanted to since I was 16-years-old,” added Vicky.

“I can’t thank the tutors at Darlington College enough for all the help they have given me since I came here.”

More than 200 friends, family and college staff gathered to celebrate the achievements of dozens of Darlington College students at the celebration.

Awards were presented by college principal Kate Roe and chair of governors Pat Howarth.

RESULTS:

Student of the Year in Construction - Ryan Wilshere,

Outstanding Student in Construction - Joe Scully

Most Improved Next Steps - Jack Buckle

Outstanding Student Next Steps - Shaun Moore

Most Improved Hairdressing - Tia Johnson

Hairdressing Student of the Year - Rachelle McLachlan

Student of the Year Beauty Therapy - Helen Pritchard

Most Improved Catering - Callum Crackett

Student of the Year Catering - Charlie Sargent

Most Improved Sport - Sophie Kirk

Student of the Year Sport Science - Lois Farndale

Most Improved Travel and Tourism - Claire-Louise Ashford

Student of the Year Travel and Tourism - Kayleigh Savage

Most Improved VPA - Keith Jackson

Student of the Hear VPA - James Allinson

Most Improved Media - Marcus Atkinson

Most Improved Science - Kirsten Gent

Student of the Year Science - Luca Cara

Student of the Year Engineering - Michael Gichaga

Outstanding Engineering Student - Ben Moutrey

Most Improved Automotive - Matthew Lavin

Most Improved Business - Josh Bridle

Student of the Year Business - Emily Harter

Student of the Year IT - Luke Saunders

Most Improved IT - Adrian Robson

Student of the Year Health and Care - Hans Kukreja

Student of the Year Childcare - Matthew Donoghue

Student of the Year Uniformed Services - Ethan Odziemski

Most Improved Student Health and Care - Shamiha Uddin

Most Improved Uniformed Services - Kray Williams

Outstanding Student education and Teaching - Jonathan Hedley

Most Improved Childcare - Jessica Blenkiron

Outstanding Access to Higher Education - Vicky Neeson

Outstanding Maths - Danielle Smith

Outstanding English - Cameron Berry

Principal’s Student of the Year – Vicky Neeson