From India to Aberdeen, Joanita’s journey has been shaped by resilience and a lifelong desire to learn. At NESCol, she finally had the opportunity to turn that dream into reality.

Joanita Dsouza (45) grew up in India, where she received a basic education. Although she had big ambitions and wanted to continue learning after school, the cost of further study was too much for her family, and only her brother was able to carry on with his studies.

She said, “As a little girl growing up in India, I always dreamed of studying and building something for myself. Due to difficult circumstances and high fees, I simply couldn’t make it happen back then.

“I saw my mother selling her jewellery to pay for my brother’s education, so I did what I could to help my family instead.”

Building a career

Determined to build a future for herself, Joanita worked in various roles – until a colleague approached her with a life-changing opportunity.

She said, “My colleague asked me if I had heard of cruise ships. I got excited because I had always wanted to travel.”

Out of hundreds of applicants, Joanita secured a position with Norwegian Cruise Line and left her home country for the first time. She spent almost a decade working at sea, travelling the world, developing her confidence and improving her English language skills.

She also met her future husband on board and the couple married in 2014 before moving to Aberdeen.

Moving to Scotland

Soon after arriving in Scotland, they welcomed their daughter. Once again, Joanita put her plans for education on hold, this time to focus on her family.

She said, “Even as a young mother that desire to learn never truly left me. As my daughter grew older, I finally felt ready to take that step. But life had more challenges in store.”

During a difficult period, Joanita struggled with severe anxiety and depression. Things began to change when she discovered she was eligible for funded tuition at NESCol, making a return to education possible.

She explained, “I felt so low, lost and overwhelmed, like I’d lost my way. But then I found NESCol and it became my lifeline.”

Studying administration and IT

Joanita enrolled on the Introduction to Business & Management course, before moving on to the Business, Accounting & Administration, and then HND Administration & Information Technology.

Returning to education after many years was a challenge, but she found comfort in having a community to support her.

She said, “My passion and my goals pulled me through. Studying became my greatest strength in fighting my depression.

“My favourite thing was my classmates and tutors. We were like a family. I wouldn’t call it a class; it was like a home, and I always looked forward to coming to College.”

Support at NESCol

Joanita also credits College staff for helping her succeed.

She said, “None of this would have been possible without the incredible staff at NESCol. Every single one of them was supportive, understanding and kind. They saw me, believed in me and held space for me when I needed it most.”

As English isn’t her first language, Joanita received additional support during assessments.

She explained, “The College was so good and arranged everything quickly. I had a laptop to help with my writing, a dictionary and extra time, which was so helpful.”

Next steps

Having successfully completed her HND, Joanita is now progressing directly into third year at Robert Gordon University (RGU) to study Business Analytics. Looking back, she is proud of how far she has come.

“It was never easy. Juggling motherhood, home, my own life and College meant every day was a balancing act and sometimes a struggle.

“Having passed my HND, I could not be prouder of myself.”

Alongside her studies, Joanita is a part-time yoga instructor. She hopes to gain further experience after university before one day starting her own yoga business.

Advice for students

Joanita’s advice to anyone considering a return to education is simply: “Don’t give up.”

She explained, “My journey has been long and full of challenges. People back in India laughed at me and said, ‘At your age? It’s your daughter’s turn, not yours.’ But this wasn’t just about qualifications.

“I did this for the little girl in India who dreamed of studying, and for the woman who lost her way and found it again.

“And I did this for my daughter, so she knows that no matter your age, circumstances or what people say, it’s never too late to chase your dreams.”

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