Alysia Dewar transitioned from a career in childcare to travel after completing her HND in Travel & Tourism at NESCol.

24-year-old Alysia lives in Gourdon, a small fishing village south of Aberdeen City. After leaving school at 16, she started her career in childcare, working full-time in a private nursery for five years.

She said: “During this period, I gained many useful life skills such as communication, patience and creativity. I am very thankful for my time within this role as I met many brilliant people who help me grow my confidence.”

Alysia’s passion for learning was reignited in 2018, when she achieved her SCQF Level 7 qualification in Social Services (Children and Young people).

Like many others around the country, in 2020 Alysia was furloughed from her role as a Childcare Practitioner. Having caught the learning bug, she used this time productively to study for a Diploma in Professional Interior Design, completing the year-long course in just four months!

After returning to work, Alysia felt like something was missing in her life and she longed for a change. In July of 2021, she applied to study Travel & Tourism at NESCol.

Course highlights

The opportunities to learn outside of the classroom and meet like-minded students were standout moments from Alysia’s time at College.

She said: “Travel and tourism has always interested me since I was a child, so I thoroughly enjoyed every subject that the course had to offer.

“My highlights from over the years include visiting Edinburgh on a class trip, dolphin spotting at Greyhope Bay and meeting with key companies in the travel industry.

“NESCol allowed me to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds that share the common interest of travel and tourism.”

Studying at NESCol

Alysia struggled to concentrate at home, so she appreciated the option of using the many spaces around campus to do her coursework.

She said: “I found facilities such as the library and online resources to be particularly helpful. Sometimes it could be hard to complete work at home so I was grateful for these quiet spaces around the campus where you could set up your laptop and type away.”

Throughout her College journey, Alysia felt supported and listened to by her lecturers.

She said: “If there was ever an issue or query, I could always rely on my lecturers to resolve this. Over the last three years I have received so much help from the Travel & Tourism team and I would like to thank them for this.

“I achieved Student of the Year during the first year of my HND, and again in Year 2! This would not have been possible without the continuous support from my lecturers.”

Graduation

Alysia graduated with her HND in Travel & Tourism at NESCol’s Music Hall ceremony on 1 October.

By coincidence, the bronze commemorative plaque in the Music Hall’s reception features both Alysia’s great-grandfather and step-grandfather! The plaque honours those who served and fell in the Spanish Civil War.

Working in the travel sector

Alysia has already embarked on her travel career, securing a job as a Business Travel Consultant in Dyce after completing her final semester at College in late June.

She said: “I am loving it! I have already met so many wonderful colleagues who have taught me so much in such a short space of time. I cannot wait to grow more in confidence, settle more into the team and experience everything that the role has to offer.

“The years that I spent at NESCol were the stepping stones which led me to where I am meant to be and where I stand today.

“I highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a change in their career to make the leap and apply to NESCol. Follow your passion as life is too short not to.”