John Everard
Following several years of deep-seated depression, John was introduced to adult learning through helping as a volunteer walk guide. He had expressed no interest in academic study, but completed the Navigation Skills for Walkers course at Northern College in January 2010. This was the beginning of his recovery. After experiencing the friendly, supportive atmosphere engendered within the college, he enrolled the following week on the three-week-long Learning to Learn course, which was followed by other short study courses. John grew in confidence and in the September he began an Access to Higher Education diploma. He has since been offered places at five universities to study Events Management.
John embraced life at residential college and as well as studying he became President of the Student Union, a Student Governor and a member of numerous college committees. He has introduced student initiatives, producing important new revenue streams, as well as a carsharing scheme. “My experience of Northern College and adult learning has totally reshaped and rebalanced my life,” said John. “I now look forward, once again, to an exciting future.”