Ross’s Story

“The University Centre is flexible, inclusive, and incredibly supportive.”

When Ross first walked through the doors of Truro College as a teenager, he couldn’t have imagined that he would return more than a decade later as a mature student, business owner, and parent, ready to rediscover his passion for learning.

Ross’s early college years were shaped by challenge. After moving from Callington Community College to study A Levels at Truro, he faced the devastating loss of his father during his first year. “I struggled,” he admits. “I suffered from anxiety and felt completely lost.” Despite the difficulties, the support he received from the college stayed with him and would later shape his confidence to return.

Determined to move forward, Ross obtained a CertHE from the Open University, before enrolling at the University of Exeter to study Renewable Energy Engineering. The large lecture theatres and impersonal style of learning didn’t suit him. “The teaching quality was excellent, but I felt like just a number,” he says. Realising the course wasn’t right for him, he stepped away and began building a successful career in retail instead.

Over the next decade, Ross progressed from interior designer to store manager across several major brands. Yet one thing never left him: his love for sport. Encouraged by his return to rugby and a renewed interest in the science behind human performance, he eventually decided it was time to revisit higher education.

Then life threw another curveball. Within the same month, Ross was made redundant and broke his leg. “Starting a new job, starting a degree, launching a business, and doing it all with a broken leg – it was chaotic!” he laughs. But with determination, he founded Evergreen Interiors, the business he now runs with his wife, while beginning a Sports Therapy degree at the University Centre.

What he found this time was completely different from his previous university experience.

“The University Centre is flexible, inclusive, and incredibly supportive,” Ross says. “As a mature student spinning a lot of plates, I’ve never felt judged or left behind. Lecturers know you personally. They notice when you’re not there. And they genuinely want to help you succeed.”

From ADHD support to flexible scheduling and small cohort sizes, the environment has given Ross the space to thrive while balancing work, study, and family life. “I actually look forward to coming in. Even in the middle of a busy work week, it feels like a break, somewhere I can focus on developing myself.”

Now studying Sports Therapy, Ross hopes to progress into the next stage of the BSc Sports Therapy programme starting in September. His ambition is to eventually build a career in sports therapy or physiotherapy, potentially alongside his interiors work — and even explore equine physiotherapy in the future.

And while his journey hasn’t been straightforward, he firmly believes that’s something to celebrate. “There’s no such thing as a linear path,” he says. “You don’t have to finish college and know exactly what you’re going to do. You can step sideways. You can come back later. You can start again at 30, 40, 50 – whenever. People should find enjoyment in knowledge.”

As part of Colleges Week, we asked Ross for three words that describe the University Centre. His answer came instantly: “Inclusive. Varied. Flexible.”