Amelie

“For Biology and Psychology it was an A*, and then an A for Art. I’m really happy.”

Courses studied and results: A Level Biology (A*), Psychology (A*) and Fine Art (A)

Former school: Humphrey Davy School

What’s next: Bath Spa University to study Human Nutrition

For Amelie, results day marked the end of two successful years at Penwith Campus, closing out with an outstanding set of grades, part of another year of results continuing Truro and Penwith College’s 30-year legacy of transforming lives across Cornwall.

Asked how she felt, Amelie didn’t need long to answer. “Yeah, I’m really happy.”

Coming from Humphrey Davy School, Amelie chose Penwith Campus largely for its location, close enough to walk to in around half an hour, with the beach easily reached afterwards. “Partly the location, it was just really easy; I could walk here in about half an hour, and then I can walk down to the beach afterwards.”

That closeness to home meant Amelie could keep up commitments outside College life throughout her course: “because it’s close to my home, I’ve been able to continue working in clubs and stuff, whereas if I was travelling to Truro every day, I would have had to give up a lot of that.”

One of those commitments is part-time work at a local fermentation-focused food business, making kimchi and sauerkraut alongside running workshops and supper clubs, work that fed directly into her academic interests. “I work making kimchi and sauerkraut. We do workshops where we talk a bit about the health benefits and teach people how to make it, and then we cook lunches, do supper clubs and events as well.”

Amelie is especially warm about her lecturers, particularly in Art, for backing her most ambitious ideas rather than reining them in: “The lecturers go out of their way to make things happen for you. I’ve had a lot of out-there ideas with art, but the whole team made sure they could make them happen, whether it’s photography or sewing or whatever. They’re really encouraging of these ideas that sound a bit crazy, but they love them.”

One project stands out as a personal highlight, a quick-turnaround Art piece completed between February and April. “I did really enjoy the last art project we did; it was quite a quick turnaround, from February to April, to create a portfolio and a final piece. But I was happy with the outcome of that one.”

With her results secured, Amelie is heading to Bath Spa University to study Human Nutrition, a choice that brings together several of her long-standing interests. “I’ve been interested for quite a long time. When we had to pick our A Level options, I was thinking, what would I like to do as a degree? I really like cooking, and I’m quite interested in the biology of health and nutrition. I really enjoy Biology as well, so nutrition was one of the things I saw when I was first looking into degree options.”

For future students, Amelie’s advice is to make full use of the people and resources around them. “Make the most of the lecturers, because I think they really do just want the best for you; ask them if you’re stuck. Make the most of the library, and the free periods too; I think that can save you a lot of time.”

Everybody at Truro & Penwith College wishes Amelie the very best for her future endeavours.