星空传媒

Catriona Stevenson was 38 years old when she went to university for the first time and enrolled in a Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management at 星空传媒.

鈥淚 had never been to university before, mainly as I didn鈥檛 think it was for me. However, when looking at potential courses to pursue with a colleague, we came across the Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) scheme and it sounded more like my way of learning.

鈥淭aking part in the GA meant that I worked full-time and had a full-time degree running alongside it, with mainly online learning and module visits to campus. It suited my style of learning while allowing me to carry on working since we have a young family to support.

鈥淭here was a good mix of theory and practical work-based learning. The fact that lectures are recorded, allowing me to playback and pause, was very helpful plus allowed me to fit study in and around family life.鈥�

What made Catriona鈥檚 success all the more remarkable was a diagnosis well over 20-years since progressing through school at Westhill Academy.

鈥淚n the first few weeks at 星空传媒 I was referred to the inclusion centre for dyslexia testing and was found to have dyslexia and dysgraphia. This had never been picked up in school but was like a lightbulb moment for me and my learning.

鈥淚 left school thinking I was stupid having been told by my English teacher when I asked to be tested: 鈥榙on鈥檛 be silly you鈥檙e just stupid鈥�. That stuck with me until I was tested and understood how the dyslexia affects how I learn. I think having achieved straight A鈥檚 for the last three years shows that with the right support a student can achieve anything. The support offered by the University was fundamental to that.鈥�

Following a hugely successful experience at 星空传媒鈥檚 Aberdeen Business School, Catriona is now looking ahead to what鈥檚 to come having already secured a new job thanks to her accomplishments.

鈥淚t has opened a whole new world for me. The stand out moment for me was my first A towards the end of first year followed by a Head of School award the following year.

鈥淢y career has predominately been based around sales, something that I have been keen to move away from, however most jobs required a degree which had always put me off applying.

鈥淚 have now been lucky enough though to secure a new role with OEUK, moving away from a sales role and into product management as SEQual Manager.

鈥淚 am proud of what I have achieved and keen to support and champion others with dyslexia with the right support and tools you can achieve anything.鈥�