Student Case Study - HNC Engineering Systems
“When returning to study I chose a subject which would challenge me intellectually and push me out of my comfort zone” Hilary Walker, HNC Engineering Systems, Moray College UHI.
Hilary Walker has just graduated from Moray College UHI with an A pass in her final exam for HNC Engineering systems and will now progress onto an apprenticeship with SSE as a trainee engineer which she starts in August 2015. Hilary’s story is especially inspirational, not only as she has succeeded in a traditionally male orientated industry but because Hilary also suffered a horrific accident in 2011 which meant she was unable to continue her existing career.
Hilary is 28 and from Elgin and was educated at Elgin Academy. On leaving school she attended Moray College UHI and studied childcare which led to her working abroad with a tour company. She worked in Egypt and France and was due to go back to Egypt when she was knocked down by a car just before Christmas.
Her injuries were such that after a long period of recovery Hilary was not able to return to her childcare career as she was unable to bend and lift. Not deterred by her experience, Hilary decided to return to studying and chose a subject which, in her own words, ‘which would challenge me intellectually and push me out of my comfort zone’. Despite not being at all confident about the subjects, particularly Science and Maths which she struggled with at school, Hilary applied for level 6 Engineering Systems in 2013 and then progressed to HNC which she completed this year. Hilary worked tirelessly in her studies which has been reflected by her A pass in her final exam.
Hilary wants to thank the staff at Moray College UHI for their help and support and she is looking forward to starting her apprenticeship with SSE. Working in a male dominated environment has been motivating for Hilary as she recalls: ‘the main difference with working in a male environment is that males tend to be brutally honest: which I appreciated'.
We would like to wish Hilary every success in her career with SSE and thank her for agreeing to tell her story.
If you are interested in Engineering, come and study at Moray College UHI and invest in your future. We still have spaces available on a number of our courses, apply today to start in September.