Arasi Olayinka

Arasi Olayinka has just completed an HNC in IT and has been voted HE Student of the Year for his overall contribution.

He has been a student at Shetland College for 2 years.  He first came to study an ESOL course in 2010 and enjoyed the course, and this gave him the confidence to apply to do further study and go on to complete a HNC in IT.

"I have enjoyed all aspects of my course. I really enjoy web based and computer programming, as well as IT and Data base technologies. One of the things that I have found most satisfying is meeting so many new people, who have all been friendly and made  the course, not only enjoyable but something that I will remember for a long time. I like that the college is small because it has a friendly environment, I like getting on the bus to college in the morning and seeing people that I recognise and can speak to- it makes me feel like I belong."

Arasi overcame many challenges, but one of the main ones was the accent!

"For the first couple of months I felt a bit lost in classes as I couldn’t always understand what was being said. When I started the course I also didn’t have any practical knowledge of IT so I felt a bit overwhelmed at points, but my course tutor was really good, he helped me to see that everything was going to be okay and that I was capable of achieving the HNC, now I am really glad that I listened to him."

Arasi has decided to stay on at Shetland College and complete the HND, and after that he would like to progress onto doing the degree.

"I think it brilliant that I am able to make decisions about my future study as I go along- rather than having to make a 3 or 4 year commitment at the beginning of the course. I would not have been able to achieve all that I have without the help and support from my wife and the lecturing staff at the college."