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TWO succcessful students have been held up as shining examples as part of a college campaign to encourage more people to take up vocational courses.
South East Essex College, in Southend, has highlighted the hard work of students who choose to study for a specific type of job at its first National Vocational Qualifications, or NVQs, Day.
The event was held as part of a campaign to to dispel the myth that the qualifications are the poor relation of A-levels.
Katy Anderson, 18, from Southend, was praised by the college after achieving a triple distinction in her Btec National Diploma in health studies, which is the equivalent of three As at A-level.
Her success is helping her fulfil a lifetime's ambition of becoming a nurse by getting a place on a mental health nursing degree at the University of Southampton.
She said: "I think because the course is coursework based, some people have the impression it is an easy option, but that is definitely not the case. You have to really manage your time effectively and be motivated to do your own research and studying.
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"At school I was more used to exams, but I know that this course has really helped me prepare mentally for my degree."
Fellow student, Lee Turner, 18, from Rochford, will go to Coventry University to study a degree in disaster management, to learn how to tackle everything from terrorist attacks to tornados in the UK's top course of its kind.
Lee studied his BTEC national diploma in uniformed public services at the college and hopes to go on to Sandhurst, the Royal Military Academy.
He said: "This course is very much about saving lives and learning from disasters, whether they be man-made or natural.
"Each action we take or we don't take could be the difference between a person living or dying, so it will be an exciting and very important course."
Many of the students who have studied NVQs will now either be seeking employment or continuing their studies on foundation degree or degree courses.
Jan Hodges, principal and chief executive at the college, said: "These qualifications blend academic and workplace skills and at advanced level are every bit as challenging as A-levels and qualify students for higher education and work."
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