Chesney Steers delivered the student address at her Loughborough College graduation – and admitted that after eight years with the College she is not ready to leave yet.
Graduating with a 2:1 in Tourism Management Chesney is the first to admit that when she first arrived at the College she was far from a model student.
“I came on the School Links programme after being told by my teachers I would never achieve anything.
“But the support and guidance I got from Loughborough College really turned things around for me and after two years I had a qualification in Childcare and I was determined not to stop there.
“I then returned to the College and changed direction, beginning a course in Travel and Tourism and ended up with Distinctions across the board before embarking on my three-year degree course.”
But despite the fact that Chesney, 23, has been at Loughborough College longer than some of her tutors she plans to return in the autumn.
“I will be studying for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Derby University and have a teaching placement lined up – at Loughborough College.
“My life has been transformed. I am really not sure where I would be if I hadn’t come to Loughborough College all those years ago. I can’t thank them enough. Who knows, maybe one day I will be teaching alongside them.”
Loughborough College Higher Education lecturer Tina Smith said: “We will really miss Chesney, she has become such a part of Loughborough College – but we are so pleased she is continuing her studies and we have no doubt she will make a wonderful teacher. I am sure she will go on to achieve great things.”