Caelsa Sim, a dedicated student and mother from Peterhead, proudly graduated with an HNC in Social Sciences at the North East Scotland College (NESCol) Fraserburgh Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, 20 September.

The event marked a significant milestone for Caelsa and her family, celebrating her inspiring journey back into education.

Caelsa’s early experiences with education were not positive. Reflecting on her time at secondary school, she described feeling unsupported and struggling to engage with learning.

After leaving, she worked as a care assistant, all the while holding onto a long-standing ambition to become a paramedic.

Motivation to return to study

It was the birth of her son, Tyler, that reignited her determination to pursue education. Motivated by a desire to build a better future and set a positive example, Caelsa explored the curriculum at NESCol’s Fraserburgh campus and enrolled in the Level 6 Social Sciences course. With a keen interest in psychology and sociology — two core subjects of the programme — she embraced the opportunity to learn and grow.

Despite initial nerves about returning to study, Caelsa quickly found her confidence and began to thrive in the college environment.

“I got to a point in my life where I basically wanted to prove to myself and others that I was capable of more than I’d been told back when I was at school,” she said.

“I wanted to show Tyler that anything is possible, and I got a great sense of achievement from attending classes, studying, and learning something new. I enjoyed the course content and met some great people, some of whom I know will now be lifelong friends.”

Challenging times

During her time at college, Caelsa received a life-changing diagnosis: she had both ADHD—a developmental condition—and dyslexia, a language-based learning difficulty. For Caelsa, the diagnosis came as a relief, helping her make sense of many past experiences.

After completing her Level 6 qualification, Caelsa chose to progress to the HNC in Social Science. She immediately noticed the increased difficulty of the course, but thanks to the confidence she had built during her first year and her growing knowledge and skills, she rose to the challenge.

However, her greatest test came last year when doctors advised that her son needed urgent spinal surgery. Tyler, now 11, was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and is paralysed from the waist down.

A worsening of his scoliosis meant surgery was needed immediately. It was a deeply distressing time for Caelsa, but thankfully, the operation was successful and Tyler made a remarkably quick recovery—defying expectations for how long he would need to heal.

Succeeding in the face of adversity

Despite the emotional strain, Caelsa’s dedication to her studies never wavered. Jenna Noble, Curriculum Manager for Social Science at Fraserburgh Campus, shared:

“Caelsa’s commitment to the course was nothing short of outstanding. Despite the challenges of her son’s condition and surgery, she submitted all coursework on time—even when offered extensions—and her attendance was exemplary. Caelsa managed parenting, caring for a child with complex needs, and succeeding in her studies in a way that was truly impressive.”

Future plans

Now taking a well-earned year out, Caelsa plans to apply for the BSc in Paramedicine at RGU and is gaining work experience to support her application. For now, she and her family are celebrating her incredible achievement at NESCol and the exciting new opportunities ahead.

Study Social Sciences at NESCol

Social Sciences is a diverse and interesting area of study, which will help you develop transferable skills for a range of careers – including paramedicine!

View all social sciences courses