When Anthony Hawkins first came to Fircroft, he was going through one of the most difficult periods of his life. Having suffered a stroke 12 months earlier, Anthony had taken redundancy from his previous employment and found himself at a very low point.
“I needed to do something,” Anthony says.
At the encouragement of his wife, Sonia, Anthony decided to give Fircroft a chance and enrolled on the Stepping Stones courses.
“I was absolutely terrified”
Starting college was not easy for Anthony. His confidence was low, and he was unsure whether he would be able to cope.
“I was absolutely terrified on my first day at Fircroft,” he says. “I was so close to walking out because I didn’t think I would be able to cope.”
But meeting his tutor and fellow students quickly changed how he felt.
“After meeting the tutor and other students, you feel a sense of belonging.”
For Anthony, one of the most valuable parts of his time at Fircroft was connecting with other learners and hearing their stories.
“Just meeting fellow students and sharing our stories about why we were at Fircroft made me realise I wasn’t alone. I also really valued the support from the tutors.”
Discovering skills and confidence
As Anthony progressed through his courses, he began to see himself differently.
“Fircroft has made me realise I have skills that I didn’t think I had before. It has me looking at things more positively.”
The experience helped Anthony recognise that there was more to him than he had previously realised, and that his lack of confidence did not have to define him.
“I have been someone who lacked confidence, but spending so much time at Fircroft made me realise it doesn’t have to be like that.”
A message to anyone thinking about joining Fircroft
Anthony’s advice to anyone considering studying at Fircroft is simple: give it a chance.
“My advice is, don’t walk away. Give Fircroft a chance and you may surprise yourself with the skills you already have and the skills you will pick up as you go along.”
“There is so much more to you than you realise, and the college will help you realise that.”
Looking forward
Anthony says he is not currently focused on a particular future plan. Instead, he is embracing what his time at Fircroft has given him and looking at life in a more positive way.
“I have no future plans, but I’m just embracing what the college has already given me – and that is living life for the better.”
Looking back, Anthony believes that coming to Fircroft has made a significant difference to where he is today.
“I was lost before I went to Fircroft. It was my wife Sonia who kept pushing me to give it a go.”
Anthony is open about how difficult things had become before he came to college. Today, while he recognises that life is not perfect, he feels he is in a much better place.
“My life is perfect still, but I am in a far better place than I was before the college came along.”
Anthony’s advice
“There is so much more to you than you realise.”
For Anthony, Fircroft has been about more than completing courses. It has been about rediscovering his confidence, recognising his own abilities, connecting with others and learning to look towards life more positively.
His message to anyone who is nervous about taking that first step is clear: don’t underestimate yourself. Give Fircroft a chance – you might surprise yourself.
