Aisha has dreamt of becoming a nurse since childhood. Her inspiration came during a hospital stay with her stepsister, where she saw first-hand the dedication and warmth healthcare professionals showed to those in their care.

Now, after graduating from North East Scotland College (NESCol) with an HNC in Healthcare Practice, Aisha is one step closer to achieving that lifelong ambition.

Originally from Nigeria, Aisha’s journey to this point has not been without its challenges. After getting married and becoming a mother, one of her children was born with cerebral palsy.

At the time, the family were living in the UAE, where Aisha was her son’s primary carer for nine years before he sadly passed away.

Reflecting on that period of her life, Aisha said:

“My son, Hafeez, taught me some of the most important life lessons: patience, compassion and resilience, but above all, how to love and care for someone unconditionally.

“Those lessons have continued to guide me. After moving to Scotland and settling in Aberdeen, I decided to look for employment in healthcare.”

Aisha secured a role as a Support Worker with SRS, an organisation providing specialist support for older people and adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex care needs across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Through her role, she realised caring for others was not simply a job, but a genuine passion. Determined to pursue the nursing career she had always dreamed of, she began working towards the qualifications she needed.

She successfully applied for and completed the SCQF Level 6 Healthcare course at NESCol, an experience she thoroughly enjoyed. The course provided a progression route to the HNC Healthcare Practice programme, although the next step in her College journey brought new challenges.

The HNC Healthcare Practice requires students to complete 400 hours of work placement. Alongside her placement at ARI, Aisha continued to care for her three children, aged 17, 15 and eight, studying and maintaining her part-time role with SRS.

During this time, her husband was working overseas, and she also experienced a period of ill health.

Aisha described the experience as very challenging: “There were times when it felt impossible, but with hard work, determination and the support of my fantastic tutor, I managed to keep going and complete the course.”

Despite the obstacles she faced, Aisha remained focused on her goal and has now started a BSc Hons in Adult Nursing at RGU.

Aisha said, “Looking back, I realise that every part of my journey prepared me for where I am today. My experiences taught me that sometimes our dreams take longer than we expect, but that does not mean we should give up on them.

“If you are thinking about coming to NESCol, take that first step. Believe in yourself, even when the journey feels difficult.”

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