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At NEC we love to hear about and share the experiences of our students. In today’s student story, we hear from Evie who took on the challenge of studying not one but three different A level course subjects.
For Evie, learning has always been about more than just passing exams, and despite health challenges and setbacks along the way, she has kept her determination to achieve A levels and build a future that reflects her passions.
Here is Evie’s inspiring story.
Finding the Right Subjects
When choosing her subjects, Evie thought carefully about what inspired her. Originally, she dreamed of becoming a pilot, but after discovering she was colourblind at 16, that dream closed.
“I found it hard to find something that was right for me.
When I was younger I hoped to become a pilot and unfortunately I found out I was colourblind at the age of 16 so I wasn’t able to. I hoped to join the military and work as a translator in communications however due to my autoimmune disease I wasn’t allowed to do so. It took me a long time to really think about what I would like to do as I have many hobbies. Geography involves many of my interests like what makes a place, natural hazards (volcano, earthquakes, tornados etc), human rights. In French I can communicate and understand the beauty of talking in other languages. In Business, I love the marketing and psychology of what people look for in advertisements, price, and products.”
Why study with NEC?
For Evie, when it came to deciding whether studying with NEC was right for her, NEC’s flexibility and support were the deciding factors. Evie has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and knew she would need a provider who understood her needs.
“If it wasn’t for the local authority matching me with NEC, I don’t know where I’d be. I wanted to do A levels no matter my age, and NEC made that possible.”
Unlike traditional college courses that lacked the flexibility she needed, NEC gave Evie the chance to study at her own pace while managing her health.
The Experience of Distance Learning
The ability to study through distance learning has suited Evie’s learning style perfectly. In school, her ADHD, autism, and anxiety sometimes left her feeling overwhelmed and distracted. Learning independently at NEC has given her the calm and focus she needs to succeed.
“Everything has been great. My tutors have been so flexible and understanding, and the course materials are easy to follow. I find the quizzes and interactive activities really help me retain knowledge.”
Evie also mentions a particular memory of joining a free Mandarin taster course NEC which ran in partnership with the Open University. “I love learning new languages, especially basics as I love talking so much and travelling. So when I saw NEC and Open University had worked together to do a Mandarin lesson, I was chuffed, especially for the fact it was free and receiving the PowerPoint slides after and it had gone on for 3 weeks.”
Achievements and Next Steps
Whilst studying with NEC, Evie is aiming for grades 7–8 in her A levels, with results due next summer. When asked about her future plans, Evie replied:
“University to do undergraduate and postgraduate – maybe doctorate like my mum and work in environmental and sustainability or international business.”
Balancing Studies With Life
As if Evie wasn’t inspiring enough, alongside her studies, Evie fits in freelance cleaning jobs for friends and balances a busy routine of hospital appointments. NEC’s flexible timetable allows her to adjust her study hours around her health.
Her advice to others is simple but very powerful:
“Don’t overdo it – set out your own timetable and worksheet plan, plan when you want assignments done. I aim to do 2 hours maximum of each subject but if I feel I can’t do that, 30mins-60 mins is more than enough. Be kind to yourself.”
Looking Back—and Forward
Evie has already overcome a number of barriers that might have stopped many others in their tracks. From retaking GCSEs online in French, Maths, and History after school, to now tackling her A levels with NEC, Evie has certainly proven that persistence pays off.
Would she study with NEC again? Absolutely..
“I would for sure, I would love to do something like psychology as it really ties in with business analysis and sociology for geography. NEC has been excellent—so patient and understanding of my health condition. It’s helped me keep my motivation and succeed in my studies.”
Conclusion
Evie’s journey is a reminder that education doesn’t have to follow a straight or traditional path. With determination, support, and the flexibility of distance learning, Evie is happily making steps towards a future in sustainability and business that reflects her passions.If you’d like to explore how distance learning could help you achieve your goals, discover NEC’s A level courses today.