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News: Sophie’s college experience propels exciting photography career

Please note: This news story may contain information that is no longer current or up to date.

Our former student, Sophie Armishaw’s exciting photographic journey began from the very first moment she set foot inside our College’s iconic Adams Building – home to many of our creative courses.

So happy with the positive experience she has had and the opportunities that her time with us has enabled her to seize - she is keen to share her story with you.

Sophie, 23, from Derby, came to the College in 2013 at the age of 19, to study a BTEC in Photography. It was here that she acquired the creative foundations needed to make firm steps towards her dream career.

Speaking of her positive time with us, Sophie said:

“I liked many different aspects of studying at the College as the two year course enabled me to gain a wide range of skills and acquire a depth of knowledge needed for the world of photography. From the very start, I was able to obtain a wealth of experience in many different aspects of being a photographer. This helped me to develop confidence in my photography work and in my own self confidence.

“The course covered a wide range of photography techniques which gave me the chance to develop and experiment with lots of different photography styles and helped me to start to create my own photographic style.”

Since leaving the College, Sophie has furthered her passion for photography by studying a BA photography degree at Falmouth University.

She continued:

“Studying at Falmouth is and has been so incredibly amazing and I wouldn’t be where I am now without having studied at the College - having the constant support and guidance I got from all the lecturers and staff on the course and the staff as a whole.

“While I’ve been studying I’ve also been a volunteer A Level teaching assistant, teaching students with one of my lectures at university and last April I came back to the College to do a week’s teaching work placement with the BTEC and A Level photography courses, to get some more teaching experience in different classroom environments. Coming back to do the placement was a great experience and to see how the same lecturers and staff are helping current students follow their dreams – just like they helped me – was amazing!”

Sophie feels that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the help of our College. She continued:

“Studying at the College, has given me the stepping stones to where I am now and to my future. When I first came to study, I had very little confidence in myself and my abilities and by the end of my course – with all the guidance, support and teaching – I was a totally different person.

“I had started to finally believe in myself and believe that I could do anything I put my mind to and also I could be proud of what I had achieved and what I would go on to do.”

For Sophie, it was a great time to overcome her own personal challenges. Speaking of her experiences, she said:

“When I was studying at College, I was struggling with very low self confidence in many ways and over the years of study, I gained support from welfare staff and lectures who helped me build myself up and gain the confidence I needed to believe in myself and gain that confidence I needed to believe that I could follow my dreams of going to university.”

“I can actually still remember the moment my tutor at the time told me that I could apply for any university in the country with the grades I had. That day changed my life and gave me the drive to follow my dreams of applying and studying at Falmouth University.”

Sophie’s advice to anyone thinking about studying at Nottingham College would be:

“The College is full of lecturers and staff who are passionate about their students and subjects they teach and between your hard work and the support you receive at the College, you will have the very best experience and achieve your goals.”

“Coming to the College is also a good way to make good contacts and relationships. Over the time I studied, I made some great friends who I still keep in touch with, including via social media with the people who are at universities far away!

“I have also made great bonds with all my lecturers over my years of study at the College and when I am back home, I normally come into college to catch up with them all.”

You can view some of Sophie’s work by visiting her website: https://www.sophiearmishaw.com/work

Published on:
  • 7th December 2017 (12:00 AM)
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