"Before I came to the College, I never thought that I would go to university"

Anwar came to London in 2002 and learned English to be able to study further. He’s now 20 and will go to university next year.

“I enjoy doing the BTEC National Diploma. The teachers are very helpful; they treat you as being more independent than in school, you have to push yourself to the limit to achieve. I like to work at my own pace. I wouldn’t be comfortable being pushed to do something I wasn’t ready for.

I did three months work experience during the summer with the College’s ICT Helpdesk, working to support the whole College network. It helped me to deepen my interest in the subject I’m doing.

Next year if I go to university I want to do a subject combined with ICT. I’d like to go to Brunel or Queen Mary. I’ve already passed several of the requirements. My personal tutor talked to me about Finance and Computing and I’m very interested in this.

I find being a mentor very interesting. You’re helping someone but learning new ways to improve your own ability. It’s very rewarding to help someone to achieve what they want to do. At the same time, the person you mentor becomes your friend. You get to know their culture, their background. It all helps to build your confidence.

Before I came to the College, I never thought that I would go to university. As I progress every year, I realise that I will be able to achieve this goal.”