Kelly Ann Denholm

Applying to NESCol was a life changing decision in many ways for Kelly. Not only was she returning to study as a mature student but also moved her family and life from Arbroath to Aberdeen to do so! 

Kelly (34) applied to NESCol to study HND Accounting, a subject that had always interested her. Being dyslexic, Kelly has always had more of an affinity with numbers than words and after years working in admin between having her children, knew that accounting was the route she wanted to pursue next.  Kelly said, “When I was offered a place on the course we decided to move to Aberdeen to start a new life and take on my new opportunity.  I had heard good things about NESCol and was excited to get started on the course and meet new people in the area.  Being a mature student and a mum of three, it is not always easy making new friends as life can often revolve around parenting responsibilities and overseeing your children’s social calendar! 

Kelly relished her new learning experience and as hoped, made some great friends on the course. The end of her first year took an unforeseen turn when the Covid-19 pandemic changed life in March 2020 and the course went online.  “I loved the course and for the first time in my life felt properly challenged.  It was strange at first when teaching went online but with the support of friends made on the course and the lecturers, we all got each other through.  I will forever be grateful to them for keeping me sane and helping me through the tough time we found ourselves in. “ 

Kelly added, “There are many lecturers along the way who had a huge impact on my learning experience and one in particular, Leanne Cruikshank, will always be held in high esteem by me.  She was consistently there for me when I had a wobble or felt overwhelmed and her continued support and belief in my capabilities got me through the course.  Our second year was taught mostly online but this did not detract from the quality of teaching we received. I definitely had the best student experience I could ever have hoped for at NESCol.”  

Kelly has used her HND from NESCol to enter directly into third year of a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Management at The Robert Gordon University and is enjoying her experience there so far. Kelly hopes to finish her studies and find a role in the accounting sector.