Lisburn woman fulfils dream of becoming Marine Biologist by stepping back into education

Monica McCard (41) a former South Eastern Regional College (SERC) Access student who fulfilled her dream of becoming a Marine Biologist by returning to education. On completion of the Access course Monica progressed to Queen’s University Belfast where she did a three-year degree in Marine Biology. She has also completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and is working on her PhD in Invasion Ecology at Queen’s University Belfast.

Monica said, “I left school at 16 with only one GCSE, my childhood dream was to one day become a marine biologist but that seemed elusive at that stage. The Access course gave me the opportunity to fulfil that dream. After I had had my family, I went back to school and through Access, I was able to complete my degree in Marine Biology.

She added, “Having experienced first-hand what someone like myself can achieve by going back to study, I am a strong ambassador for lifelong and adult learning and would whole heartily encourage anyone who is thinking of returning to take that first step.”

Her love for science has also led her to a career as a substitute teacher.

Monica is in her second year of her PhD and has a strong interest in invasion ecology, as a result, she displays extensive knowledge on the subject and a range of topics including animal behaviour, marine and aquatic biology, animal husbandry and statistics. She has co-authored four research papers (three in press) and is finishing her first senior authored paper.

Monica is not only improving her own knowledge, but that of others. For the last few months she has been setting up an outreach programme at Queen’s Marine Lab where inner city high school students can become marine biologists for a day. She said, “It is really difficult to get experience in this area if you are looking to secure a place on a degree programme, or later a job.   This way, students have opportunities to volunteer and as such, they are enhancing their skills and those of the children involved. This initiative will shine a light on issues that impact our shores while encouraging students to strive for what they are passionate about.”

Ellie Bradley, Deputy Head of School, Applied Science Sport and Access to Education, at South Eastern Regional College said, “Our programmes really start from Restart Education which is a part-time programme aimed at giving people as second stab at their education, going right back to basics for maths and English.     Students can also start at Access entry level, but this will depend on what they have on entry.  

“When people come to us they are scared about maths and English, school really didn’t work for them for one reason or another, perhaps they didn’t see school as important, or had their family early…. we are not hung up on what happened in the past.   Our focus is on this nice fresh start where everyone gets the opportunity to prove to themselves, their families and friends that they can succeed, whether that is getting qualifications to pursue a vocational course in further education or maybe starting a course at university.   Everyone’s journey and aspirations are different.

“The one thing that unifies the students coming to Restart or the Access programmes are that they are all scared.    Some are scared even to cross the door, scared that they won’t be able to do it or that that maybe that maths teacher from the past was right.   The first day will always be quiet but a month in, it is like a different group of people.   The excitement of ‘getting it’, especially maths, has taken over.   They are looking forward to coming into class and eager to learn something they thought they would never understand.

The learning process raises aspirations not only for the students but for their own children.   They are able to say, ‘Yes, I know how to do that, and I can show you’. They don’t have to Google the answer to help their children with school work.   It is a wonderful feeling.

“By Christmas, the Restart students are thinking of moving on to an Access course, such is the impact of the progress they have made in a few months through dedicated teaching and classes tailored for an older group of students.   The Access course is a recognised entry to university for mature returners.  It covers modules ranging from humanities through to sciences and social sciences – it depends on what the student wants to pursue as a career as to which path they will take.

“For us, it is important that the education is accessible. We structure the timetable around school drop-off and pick-ups and if students need a day off to deal with some crisis at home, we can work around that, so they don’t fall behind.    We are not school, the classes are small, and they are engaging, everyone contributes.  Every day we are proving to the students that learning can be fun.  The classes bond very early on and we know that many students make life-long friend whilst making this fresh start.    

She added, “About 50% of our students enter degree courses for careers in health such nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy or as health physiologists.   A large proportion go on to develop careers in social work, criminology and teaching.   A further cohort follow a science route and pursue careers in biochemistry, human biology or marine biology.     

Finally, she said, “It is a privilege to teach in this sector.   We watch people who are afraid to come into the building and see this amazing change as they develop their confidence, their learning, gain new skills and change their aspirations.   Then they come back and give a talk to current students, helping us inspire others to give it a go and relaying our mantra that it’s never too late for education.”

We are hosting a tea break and a chat session for anyone who is considering  restarting their education on a  Restart programme at 10.30 – 11.30am on Wednesday 13 March at our Newcastle Campus, Castlewellan Road, Newcastle BT33 0UR.