Ellie, my youngest has now been mostly finished college for a couple of weeks apart from going in to finish a couple of things off. It has been quite the year for her, especially after things which happened last summer which I am not going to talk about. She hasn't finished college for good, she is just on her summer break and will be returning in September which reminds me I have have forms to fill in.
When September came around I had been on the phone to the safeguarding staff at college least once a week for the whole of the summer. Ellie hadn't done anything wrong, I was in discussions about how to keep her safe. They were absolutely amazing!!! They went above and beyond to keep her safe in college and by Christmas she was on first name terms with the security guards, reception staff and wellbeing support!
For the first 3 months or so of Ellie being at college I was taking and picking her up. They could keep her safe in college but the in-between bit was a bit trickier as the bus stop is a little walk away from college. Getting the bus was a nightmare, I hated it! It took me about an hour and a half hour each way. Getting to college on a morning is simple, it's one bus but then I have to come home which involves a 15 minute walk, a bus, then another bus and another 15 minute walk. I had the same journey to do on an afternoon to pick her up, 2 buses there but thankfully it's just one bus home again. Thank goodness for the direct college bus first thing on a morning and last thing on an afternoon. I kept my distance, she sat with her friends and I sat on any empty seat! I hated it! College kids are so loud. lol
She settled in well to the college year and there was an extra girl in her class so there were 3 girls and about 18 boys. Engineering is such a male dominated subject so it was nice to hear that more girls are getting into it.
In January there was a little blip, Ellie skipped a few lessons but because I was in touch with the college so much I found out before it became a problem and may have marched Ellie into college to apologise to a teacher for missing classes. I gave them permission to ring me whenever she skipped lesson again and she never did! I did get one phone call though. Ellie had an assessment and thought it was easier to go to the classroom where it was than to check into the engineering department first. Her tutor thought she was missing, rang me but Ellie was just where she was supposed to be without bothering with the middle bit. Oops.
This year Ellie was doing the Level 2 electrical engineering course and for the first half of the year they were just going over what she had learned in the previous year. She didn't find it much harder than Level 1, there was just more detail in it. She has worked hard, learned lots and has passed everything that she needed to complete the course!
Ellie still refuses to go to the canteen at lunchtime, I can imagine how busy it gets so if she doesn't get to go at morning break she will wait until the afternoon. She has took advantage of the free breakfasts when the bus has got there early and keeps telling me about the amazing hash browns!
Ellie did take advantage of the wellbeing services that they offer at college. Counselling services, somewhere to go just to take a break from the hustle and bustle of college life and again all the staff were amazing. Her engineering wellbeing person has been having fortnightly meetings with her just to check in and make sure everything is going as it should. I really can't thank the support staff enough.
The only gripe both Ellie and I have had with college is they email her when we have both told them to email me. Ellie is still under 18 so it is allowed and supposed to happen but they insist on sending important emails to Ellie's inbox and of course she doesn't check her emails. Things about finance, bus passes and when exams are.
Now Ellie has the whole of summer to enjoy, her last proper one. This time next year she will be off into the real world. Eek!
How has your kids year at school or college gone?
Congrats to Ellie on completing her second year of college! It sounds like she's had some challenging events that were outside her control (not her fault) but thankfully she's not letting them hold her back. That resilience will be a life long asset to her. My kids were all over 18 when they started going to college. They had to give us permission to be able to check certain things about the college online such as bill paying (obviously they gave us permission as they wanted nothing to do with the bills!). I hope that Ellie enjoys her summer and continues to flourish :).
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've both found a way to manage the challenges and congratulations to Ellie on completing year 2!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Ellie and you! So glad she is safe and thriving- she is lucky to have you for a Mama :)
ReplyDeleteThe college support for Ellie and yourself sounds fantastic. How I wish this kind of support was available for university students. I appreciate that the young people at university are mostly over 18 and therefore are legally adults but they are so inexperienced in the world. My son came home after his first year severely depressed and in-fact had not gone to his exams and was not allowed to continue, despite having been won a prize for his excellent work earlier in the year. I felt very let down, for him, by the university.
ReplyDeleteThankfully he has made an excellent career for himself at Tesco(where he had worked since the age of 16) having raised to management in the shops and then changing to support work as a data annalist after completing an apprenticeship, funded by Tesco.
I wish Ellie every success in her final year and hope she goes on to find employment in her chosen field.
Jane a regular reader
That sounds like such a wonderfully supportive college and it sounds like she is doing great!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Ellie for finishing her 2nd year! Congrats to you, too, for all you did to help her along! Do please keep us posted!! My boys are many years past college, and so are my two grandkids!! Blessedly, they are all successful in their chosen careers! Ellie will be, too!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your daughter for completing year 2 and congrats to you, too, Mama, for advocating for her and encouraging her - each when needed! It does sound like she has a wonderful support system in. place at school AND at home! Now it's time to enjoy the summer ahead!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to her for finishing year 2. The staff seems really nice, helpful and genuinely involved and caring. It's heart-warming to hear that.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to her!
That is quite the accomplishment, especially for being under 18! I hope she enjoys her summer!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely to hear the college has looked after Ellie so well. She seems to be doing well and I'm sure she'll do you proud.
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