Aayan Hussein

Aayan Hussein, a 19 year old A Level science student of Coleg Glan Hafren, who was born in Somalia but raised in Sweden, was offered a place to study Biochemistry at four Universities, including Oxford University and Imperial College London.

Aayan was born in Somalia, but after the civil war started in 1991, when Aayan was only two years old, her family fled to Ethiopia, eventually moving to Sweden in 1994, where her family remain.

Aayan is fluent in Swedish and lived in a small town called Nyköping, which is one hour south of Stockholm. There is a different school system in Sweden, which meant that Aayan took 15 subjects at High School and needed to pass Maths, English and Swedish to get into college.

In the summer of 2008 Aayan was interested in studying a Fast-Track A Level in Britain and looked at the British Council "Study in the UK" website. She contacted a few colleges through the website, including Coleg Glan Hafren, who replied to offer her a place. Aayan takes up the story, "I took up Coleg Glan Hafren's offer of a Fast-Track A Level place and joined them as an International EU student. I started on the Fast-Track A Level in September 2008, studying Chemistry AS and A2 in one year, as well as taking Physics at AS Level and the Welsh Baccalaureate. We had a talk from UniGlam on applying to university and my lecturers Sue Miles and Margaret Knight, together with my tutor Sue Patrick helped me with references and my personal statement for my UCAS application. I applied to five universities and was offered a place by four of them, including Oxford University and Imperial College London.

Aayan has played the violin for three years and has read Dickens' David Copperfield four times due to her passion for reading and writing literature. Aayan continued, "I got on really well with the Norwegian exchange students here, as I could also talk Swedish with them and they are from a similar place to me. College helped me get to Oxford University, as I achieved four A grades. After Uni I hope to work in either genetic research or evolutionary psychology, as the study of genes and how they can dictate human nature is a fascinating topic and might even hold the clue to understanding and addressing human conflict."  

Liam Scott

Liam Scott, 23, from Pentwyn, works as a Rugby Development Officer for Cardiff Blues and is also studying a Sports Coaching degree part-time. His job involves organising the Future Blues Primary School Programme to recruit and develop community coaches from colleges and universities. Liam, who previously attended Llanedeyrn High School, first came to Coleg Glan Hafren in 2001 to study a BTec National Diploma in Sports Development and Fitness. He later played Rugby Academy before completing an NVQ in Rugby Union Coaching.

Liam said "I came to Glan Hafren because I preferred the less formal atmosphere where you were treated more like an adult. The lecturers were much friendlier than teachers at school, in fact I'm still good friends with some of them now.

To be honest, I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't gone to Glan Hafren - it was through the College and my tutor Gwyndaf Jenkins that I got involved in assisting primary schools in Cardiff with the Capital Rugby Scheme and met the contacts which have got me this job. I'm still in touch with Gwyndaf and he continues to mentor me in my career."

Matthew Condick

Matthew Condick is 18 and born and bred in Rumney. Matthew went to Rumney High and didn't get quite the grades he wanted at GCSE as he felt he didn't put enough effort in. Matthew said, "I opted to come to Coleg Glan Hafren as I wanted a fresh start, wanted to study where I wouldn't be treated like a child and because I felt I'd meet new people from different schools."

In his first year at AS Level Matthew continued his High School studies by choosing Film Studies, Media and History - gaining an A and two Bs. He then opted for A2 Levels in Film Studies, Media, History and an AS in Philosophy, gaining an exceptional four A grades. Matthew said, "Coleg Glan Hafren suggested I take Film Studies, to combine it with Media, but I also took AS Philosophy for a new challenge."

Matthew has signed up to study Mandarin at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning for two hours a week for a year and has also returned to college, probably to study an A2 Level in Religious Studies and possibly a fast-track A Level in Government and Politics.

Matthew said, "I've always had a strong interest in China, since my early teens. I went to Hong Kong with my mother earlier this year on the 18^th birthday trip of a lifetime, visiting all the major tourist sights. China is emerging from its shell and is showing itself on the world stage so I'm interested in finding out more about the country. After an extra year of college I will probably go onto the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, to study the language and culture of China. Eventually I may like to work in the Foreign Office."

Matthew continued, "All the staff at Coleg Glan Hafren are really supportive and I've made some great friends for life. I've put in more effort in studying my A Levels at college so I can then choose a better University later on, but returned to Coleg Glan Hafren again in September."

Lincoln Barrett aka High Contrast

Lincoln Barrett (29) is a Welsh drum and bass DJ and producer better known by his stage name High Contrast. He currently is a resident DJ at Hospitality as part of Hospital Records at Matter in London and Aperture at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff.

Lincoln attended Coleg Glan Hafren from 1997 to 1998 studying a National Diploma in Media (moving image) at the Trowbridge Road campus and an A Level evening class in Film at City Centre. He progressed on to Caerleon University in Newport where he studied a BA in Film. Just before graduation in 2001 Lincoln signed with Hospital Records and has been working with them ever since.

Lincoln chose Coleg Glan Hafren because he found school stifling and felt that a college environment would allow him to be more creative. His sister had studied Drama at the College and Lincoln thought the Media course sounded good: "I was keen to get away from the school system I had known for so many years and meet totally new people from very diverse backgrounds. The lecturers also had a different style to the school teachers. The course definitely built up my confidence and opened my mind to lots of new ideas. Through friends on the course I heard drum and bass music for the first time and this led me to getting into that scene which is now what I do for a living: producing music and DJ-ing."

"Over the last few years I have started making music videos for myself and others, where the Media and Film training has really has come into play. After releasing a greatest hits album earlier this year, I have been taking a little break from music production to concentrate on a feature film script I've written and am developing with a production company. In the future I hope to strike the right balance between making music and making films."

James Ball

For James' story click here.

Rebecca Toner

For Rebecca's story, click here.

Sean Carmody

Sean Carmody, 19 of Llanrumney, won the Junior Apprentice of the Year at the HVCAR Awards (Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association Regional Awards).

Sean joined the college straight from St Illtyds High School in September 2006, studying the Full-Time Skills Heating and Ventilation course before sending his CV and supporting statement to Lorne Stewart, a building services engineering company based in Tongwynlais at the end of the year. Sean passed his interview and was taken on as an apprentice starting on the NVQ Level 2 Heating and Ventilation (Industrial and Commercial) course in 2007, which continues to summer 2009. Sean's tutors - Alex Mackie and Malcolm Walters - nominated him for the award for his dedication and excellent progress. Once Sean completes his course, he hopes to become a Mechanical Engineer and may wish to move into management later on in life.

Runis Khira

For Runis' story click here.

Sam Saunders

Sam Saunders, 18, from St Mellons, was one of four students studying the full-time NVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy who were given part-time jobs by The Celtic Manor Resort after spending a three-day work placement at the Resort's Forum Spa as part of their Level 3 Spa Therapy training.

The Spa Director and Spa Trainer at the Celtic Manor Resort trained and assessed the students in Pool Testing, Hydrotherapy, Dry Flotation, Sauna/Steam Room and Rasul (a heat, steam and mud treatment finishing with a tropical rain shower!) 

The students performed so well during their placement that the Resort offered them jobs as part-time Forum Spa Therapists on Saturdays and Sundays, complementing the 30-strong department by offering Cooling Hot Stone Massage, Pristine Pedicures and Exotic Moisture Dew Facials.

Samantha said, "I had been studying Beauty Therapy for two years and over this time I learnt a lot about the beauty industry, and was inspired by the experience with the Celtic Manor, and the knowledge and help of the lecturers at Coleg Glan Hafren, who have all been fantastic.

Eve Richardson

Eve Richardson, 19 of Adamsdown was studying AS Levels in St Teilo's School in the first year of sixth form when her mother passed away. Understandably Eve didn't get the grades she was hoping for and decided to leave school and come to Coleg Glan Hafren for a fresh start.

Eve already had a Drama AS Level under her belt and joined Coleg Glan Hafren as Cardiff's college offered a bigger choice of more creative courses. Photography is one AS Level the college was offering that few schools were, so she opted for Psychology and Photography AS Levels. Eve quickly realised that she wasn't really tapping in to the Psychology studies so she switched to the Media Studies AS Level instead. Eve said, "I'm really into creative subjects so I studied the A2 Levels in Media Studies, Photography and Drama at Coleg Glan Hafren. I've really enjoyed my time at college as I like the fact that it's not as controlling an environment as school. They give you your independence here, which means you can get out as much as you put in."

Eve studied at the City Centre campus for three days a week and Trowbridge for two days a week, so she was entitled to a bus pass to travel to the Rumney campus. She has is now studying Media and Communications at University and is glad she studied Media at the college, as it helped her to know what career she wanted to pursue. Eve continued "All my teachers at the college have been really supportive in studies and in my personal life. My mum was an art teacher and a youth worker and always wanted me to go to University. I knew I wanted to go to Uni to make my mum proud but wasn't quite 100% sure on what I wanted to do, so originally I stupidly didn't go to some interviews. Once I went to an open day in Goldsmiths in London I knew from then on that's where I wanted to go."

As a final year photography project Eve chose meat as a subject, as she is debating on whether to become a vegetarian and feels guilty about the impact of her carnivorous ways. The pictures she took are ambiguous and make the meat take on the appearance of a landscape. Eve, who is influenced by Damien Hirst, a graduate of Goldsmiths, continued, "I would like to eventually end up working in magazine advertising as I'm fascinated by the impact of media on its audiences and can combine this with the photography element of the studies I started at Coleg Glan Hafren. I chose Goldsmiths as London is the advertising centre of the UK, so I feel I need to be where the competition is. I also knew straight away that I'd fit in with the atmosphere and the people at one of the most creative universities around." Eve needed an A and two Bs to get into Goldsmiths and got the grades she needed. Eve concluded, "I'd like to be successful in financial terms in the next 10-15 years but I'll be following my heart first and working hard as I believe then that success will follow when you're happy in what you do."

Morhib Miah

Morhib Miah is 19 and lives in Roath. Morhib's family came from Bangladesh but Morhib was born and raised in Cardiff and studied GCSEs at Willows High. Morhib said "The sciences were my favourite subjects at school, but the idea of staying on in school didn't appeal to me, so I decided to go to Coleg Glan Hafren, following in the footsteps of one of my brothers and two of my sisters, who all had a good experience at the college." 

Morhib studied from 2007 to the summer of 2008, gaining B grades in Biology AS Level and Chemistry A2 Level, and Cs in Maths AS Level and Physics AS Level. Morhib finished off three subjects this year by taking the A2 Level in Physics, Maths and Biology gaining an A and two Bs.

Morhib said, "Studying at Coleg Glan Hafren made me more confident, which helped me meet lots of new people and learn new things. I'm hoping to go to Sheffield University to study Chemical Engineering as I enjoyed the city and the Uni when I went to an open day there. I chose that degree as Chemistry has been my favourite subject since High School and I'm interested in how we can convert raw materials into useful products. I'm aiming to one day work in the gas or oil industry where I could end up travelling all around the world."

Paul Landry

Paul Landry, 17, left Cathays High School with few qualifications as he didn't enjoy school and didn't get on that well with the teachers. As Paul did enjoy the City & Guilds Mechanics course at school he decided to apply for the Pre-Apprenticeship in Mechanics and finished the one-year course in the summer of 2009. Paul has always been interested in music and has been DJing dubstep and drum n bass for the last one and a half years. Paul, who gets a "crazy reaction" in clubs when he does his dance moves (see his youtube video here), helps at the Cathays Community Centre on Cathays Terrace and is also a part of their management committee. At the Community Centre Paul helps with gigs and has even presented on Cardiff local radio a handful of times. For the last six years Paul has also volunteered to work with people with disabilities. Paul said, "I've always been into music so I joined the Foundation Media and the Arts course at Coleg Glan Hafren as a stepping stone onto a higher level Music course, where I eventually want to learn more about music engineering, sound mixing and making music."

Kim Coopey

20-year-old Kim Coopey is in her 2nd year studying Law at the University of Glamorgan. She is also taking a part time AS level in World Development Studies at Coleg Glan Hafren.

Kim, who is from Splott, originally came to the College in 2006 to study A Levels after completing her GCSEs at Willows High School. Kim didn’t know at that stage what career path she wanted to follow, so she chose to study A Levels that interested her: Sociology; Law; Geography; Psychology. She completed her AS Levels in 2007 and proceeded to study Sociology, Law and Geography to A2 Level.

Kim explained “I came to Coleg Glan Hafren because I liked the wide range of subjects on offer. It was a really friendly environment and the teachers allowed you to work at your own pace. I met lots of new people, some who I’m still friends with now. “I thought that the teaching staff were great, very approachable and they gave good advice. My tutor Clare was really good – if I had any problems I could just go to her.”

Encouraged by her tutor Clare Racis, Kim went to a few university open days to find out what was on offer. After exploring her options with a careers advisor in the College she finally decided to study Law at the University of Glamorgan.

Through college Kim found out about a scholarship which was available for students who make Glamorgan their firm UCAS choice and who subsequently obtain more than 300 UCAS points. She applied for the scholarship and having got two Bs and a C in her A Levels she has been awarded £1,000 a year to help towards costs.

During her first year at university Kim decided that she would like to have more qualifications, so she applied to study AS Level World Development Studies which she began alongside the second year of her Law degree in September last year. She explains “The legal profession is so competitive at the minute, more than ever before, that I thought having an extra qualification would help me to stand out. World Development Studies appealed to me as it’s really interesting and it complements my Law Degree, as we look at environmental, social, economic and political issues which are relevant in any profession.

“I think that it will show employers that I’m driven and willing to challenge myself, as it’s quite a lot of work doing an AS level and a degree at the same time.

“As well as that I’ve tried to get as much work experience as possible. Last year I worked at the Crown Prosecution Service and I’ve lined up a few for this summer including one at the Barristers’ Chambers at 9 Park Place.”

Kim has also managed to get a summer placement on the City Solicitors’ Educational Trust (CSET) Summer School at Imperial College London, a week-long programme which aims to help Law students hone their skills and offer the opportunity for business and social networking. During the week Kim will attend workshops and visit the offices of city law firms, meeting both senior representatives and graduates.

Not only is Kim studying for a degree in Law during the day and an AS Level in the evening, on top of that she has three jobs while also volunteering: working in the Old Library bar two nights a week, in Mothercare every Saturday and a paper round! Kim volunteers at Penhill Youth Offending Team where she is a committee panel member, she explains “Every Wednesday evening the panel meet and we decide on reparations for young offenders. We try to make sure that the young person realises the implications of their actions so we encourage victim mediation where appropriate.”

Kim’s goal for the future is to successfully complete her Law Degree and Legal Practice Course (LPC) and then find a training contract which will finally lead to her becoming a qualified solicitor. She says “College has really opened doors for me and given me the confidence to succeed in a competitive profession.”