I AM BCU
We have a confident, proud and diverse community of students at our School of Nursing and Midwifery, who are striving to achieve their career goals and transform their lives. Read just some of their stories here.
Fleur Pomponne
Learning Disability Nursing - BSc (Hons)
Fleur was all set to study Learning Disability Nursing when a flare-up of their chronic health condition meant they had to re-sit Year 13. Since joining BCU, they have received support from staff and students to ensure that they can take a full part in university life. They now want to show others that there is a place in the Nursing profession for people with chronic illness and invisible disabilities.
Claire Carmichael
Adult Nursing - BSc (Hons)
Claire never thought of university as an option when she was younger, due to her GCSE results. However, after working in a care-home and realising her passion for helping people, she didn’t let this stop her. Her hard work saw her gain a place on BCU’s Adult Nursing course. Since then, she has gone on to achieve great things such as becoming a Student Academic Leader, joining the Higher Achievers Recognition Scheme and become an official vlogger for the university.
Kushbu Lad
Child Nursing - BSc (Hons)
Kushbu was just 16 when she became a mother and never considered attending university as an option for her. However, after having her daughter, she saw herself becoming a child nurse. To achieve this dream, she spent long nights studying for both her A-levels and GCSEs, as well as volunteering, working on weekends, as a single mother. She never looked back, as this has enabled her to achieve her dream at BCU, whilst taking advantage of the amazing international opportunities here.
Karen Roberts-Shepherd
Child Nursing - BSc (Hons)
As a mature student, Karen has had to juggle looking after four young children with the intensity of a degree in Children’s Nursing. She always wanted to work in a caring profession, but it wasn’t until her baby son became very ill, and she witnessed the care he received, that she was inspired to pursue a nursing career. Now, she is proof that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams, and hopes to inspire her children with her success.
Sonia Takhar
Midwifery - BSc (Hons)
Sonia didn’t always plan to be a midwife – she left school with the aim of becoming cabin crew. But after several years flying long haul trips, and then working as a make-up artist, she decided it was time for a change. Her desire to help women have a positive birth experience led to her studying midwifery, and now she’s on her way to a rewarding new career.
Sherniece Kaur
Adult Nursing - BSc
After becoming seriously ill just a few weeks into her degree, Sherniece Kaur didn’t know if she would be able to fulfil her dream of a career in nursing. But, after a liver transplant and 10 months in hospital, she returned to BCU, and is now working towards qualifying as a nurse. After graduating, she plans to go back and work on the ward where she was treated.
Khalila Darrell
Adult Nursing - BSc (Hons)
Adult Nursing student Khalila was a little worried about starting her course as she had been out of academic studies for some time, but she found that the support from the Health, Education and Life Sciences Faculty and lecturers helped her make the transition back into study. She’s fitted in seamlessly with her peers and found herself in a tight-knit student nursing community.
Wioletta Kocemba
Nursing Associate Apprenticeship
Wioletta knew that she enjoyed working with people, but she’d never found her real passion. It was only when she started working alongside nurses that she realised how rewarding a career in nursing could be and developed an ambition to become a nurse. Encouraged by her colleagues, she applied for the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship. Support from BCU has helped her get to grips with studying in her second language and she is now on her way to achieving her career goals.
Aimable Gasana
Learning Disability Nursing - BSc (Hons)
Aimable originally graduated in Business Studies back in 2002. However, after working in a hospital admin role, he learnt about the role of a Learning Disability Nurse and developed a desire to work in healthcare himself. After visiting an Open Day, he fell in love with the course tutors, and credits them with encouraging him to a have a healthy work-life balance.
Eloise Taylor
Midwifery - BSc (Hons)
As soon as Eloise walked through the door at BCU, she felt like she fitted in. Whilst she could have gone to a university closer to home, BCU offered a very different course to other universities with the opportunity to travel abroad and broaden her skills and outlook.
Charlotte Smith
Learning Disability Nursing - BSc (Hons)
Charlotte never believed she would be able to go to university because of her dyslexia, so she just went straight into being a teaching assistant at a special school. While she was there, she started to study for a child care qualification and is currently studying to become a Learning Disability Nurse. During her time at BCU, she is the first person to be a dyslexia ambassador at the only university with dyslexia accreditation in the UK.
Portia Nyamakanga
Mental Health Nursing - BSc (Hons)
Portia had always wanted to go to university, but only developed her passion for Mental Health Nursing after attending a BCU Open Day. Now she’s in her final year of her course she praises her tutors for the support they’ve given her following her diagnosis with Fibromyalgia as well as for believing in her, even when she didn’t believe in herself.