Friends Reunited
Best of friends: Marie and David have been a positive influence on each other's success.
November 2005
Marie Smith and David Robinson became great friends when they studied together at Lambeth College in 2001/02. Both were on the Social Science, Humanities & Social Work Access to Higher Education course. They worked together on their projects and supported each other, sharing their knowledge and experience. Since then, Marie and Dave have progressed through university and completed their degrees. In November they returned to Lambeth College for a reunion with their tutors Norman Maclean and Carolyn Weniz, who they both agree were sources of great inspiration.
Marie says: “When I came to Lambeth College I had been out of education for some years and was working as a liaison officer for a building contractor. I wanted to move into a different line of work. I had worked voluntarily as a mentor for children in youth custody and this lead to my interest in social sciences.
“This course was brilliant and the tutors prepared us for entry into university. I probably wouldn’t have thought of going to university if I hadn’t been given such insight, self-belief and confidence by Norman. Dave and I worked very hard and gave it our all. Studying two nights a week on top of a full-time job requires a lot of determination.”
Marie went on to the University of Surrey in Roehampton to do a BA/BSc (Hons) Degree in Criminology, Social Policy and Administration. She plans to take a PGCE teaching qualification specialising in Citizenship at secondary school level next September.
Dave says: “I was working as a layout artist for a local newspaper but wanted to change my career. I was bored in my job and had a craving for a bigger challenge. Finding this course was the best thing that could have happened to me. I haven’t looked back since. The teaching was superb. To begin with I had trouble writing essays but was given good advice on how best to approach writing, researching and presentation. All the things I gained from Norman and Carolyn have stayed with me and helped me get my degree.”
Dave completed his BA (Hons) in Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics last year and has recently gained funding to study for a PhD.
