From Refugee to Future Pilot: How FE Helped Negar Rezaei Reach for the Skies 

For many young people, further education serves as a vital stepping stone towards their chosen careers. For Negar Rezaei, it has been nothing short of life-changing.  

Having arrived in the UK as a refugee, Negar overcame immense challenges to pursue her ambition of becoming a pilot – an ambition she now works towards as an aerospace engineering student at Sheffield Hallam University.  

Her journey is a testament to the power of education in unlocking opportunities and enabling individuals to reach their full potential, regardless of their background. 

Overcoming Barriers to Education

Negar’s journey to the UK began when she was just 13, as her family fled political unrest in Iran. The path was difficult, taking them across multiple countries before finally arriving in the UK in 2020. Once there, the challenges continued – this time in accessing education. 

“Getting a place in school was incredibly difficult, especially during the pandemic,” Negar recalls. “I knew I needed my GCSEs to progress to college, but no schools were accepting my sister or me.” 

Negar spent weeks calling schools and even visiting in person before finally being given a place in Year 10. Despite starting a year below her age group, Negar thrived in her studies. However, just as she was finding her feet, another hurdle arose – she was told she couldn’t continue into Year 11 and would have to sit all her GCSE exams with little notice.  

“I had no time to prepare, and I was dealing with personal challenges at home, but I did my best,” she says. “I managed to pass maths and science first time but had to resit English at college.” 

The Role of Further Education in Achieving Career Ambitions 

Negar’s introduction to further education came when she enrolled at Burnley College. Initially placed in Level 1 due to her GCSE results, she quickly demonstrated her capability and worked her way up to studying for an NCFE Level 3 Travel and Tourism qualification, achieving a Distinction* in August 2024. 

Moving up to Level 3 was a real turning point for Negar. She explained: “It was the best decision because it allowed me to continue progressing towards university. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” 

Her choice to study travel and tourism was driven by a deep-seated passion for aviation. Negar had always been interested in piloting, had her maths and physics GCSEs to hand, and wanted a course that would keep her connected to the industry. 

“I enjoyed so many of the units of the qualification, including aviation, business, hospitality and cabin crew – all of the many aspects of travel! I also loved how the qualification was so hands-on when it came to learning.” 

Negar’s lecturer, Nikolett Turai, saw her potential early on. “At first, we placed her in a lower level to ensure she wasn’t overwhelmed, but we quickly saw her gain confidence and excel,” says Nikolett. “She was always finishing tasks first, and the quality of her work was excellent. I’m so incredibly proud of everything she’s achieved.” 

Aiming for the Skies 

Now in her first year of aerospace engineering, Negar is determined to become a commercial pilot: “That is my ultimate goal. I think this came naturally after unintentionally travelling so much as part of my own journey. I soon realised that I would like to have this big and helpful role in society, where I’m helping individuals with the next step on their own journeys – no matter what this looks like, or where they’re coming from or going to.” 

However, one significant obstacle remains – the cost of pilot training. “It’s incredibly expensive, and that’s the biggest barrier for me right now,” she admits. “That’s why I’m studying the technical side first, and I’m hoping to secure a scholarship to fund my training.” 

The Power of Persistence 

Negar’s story is not just one of personal resilience, but also of the crucial role that further education plays in enabling people to achieve their goals. “College was a great time for me, especially at Burnley College, because I got so involved in everything, and I finally felt heard and seen,” says Negar.  

She also cherishes the further education route that she chose, recommending it to others as the best way to prepare for jumping straight into the world of work. “For anyone interested in Travel and Tourism, studying this qualification is the best thing you can do if you want to be work-ready.” 

Finally, Negar’s message to educators and institutions is equally important. “Immigrant students bring so much resilience and potential, but we need support and recognition. More pathways should be in place to help us progress, rather than being automatically placed in lower levels.” 

For Negar, further education was the key to unlocking her future. Now, she is well on her way to making her dream of becoming a pilot a reality, one step at a time.