Adults/19+

As time went by and my family started growing up, I decided to try and get a better job, so I came to Lewisham Southwark College. I saw that the college offered vocational courses, which meant I could improve my English and train for a job at the same time.

I’m currently touring with electronic soul band Honne, and have been travelling the world with them for three years. We’ve played prestigious festivals such as Glastonbury, Latitude, Leeds Festival and BBC Big Weekend in the UK and – further afield – Coachella, Seoul Jazz Festival and Austin City Limits.

I have had a huge range of training opportunities in both my workplace and college which has developed skills I couldn’t have imagined I was capable of.

I’m so glad I chose the path I did – studying such a vocational course at Southwark College was great for my CV, and now I’m doing the job I always wanted to do.

I had teaching experience and was confident in my professional abilities but felt I needed to improve my language skills, and my understanding of the English education system to be ‘work-ready’ in the UK, so I decided to start again from the bottom of the ladder.

I chose to study at Lewisham Southwark College because it was the only College nearby that specialised in Performing Arts. The course included Drama, dancing and singing, all of which I was keen to pursue.

Sometimes learners will get a ‘lightbulb moment’ which transforms their attitude to studying – and that was certainly the case for Drama student Fiona Oakley.

Music is a subject you study because you love it – which might not go for every subject. It’s an area where you can really unleash your creative streak and it allows you to work in a really cool industry.