Bournemouth and Poole College T Level Computing student Zhanna has taken the next step in rebuilding her life after leaving Ukraine by earning a place at the University of Warwick.
Now, the 18-year-old, from Bournemouth, who was awarded a Distinction in Level 3 Digital Production, Design and Development, hopes her story will inspire others.
She thanked the college for the support and direction she has received on her course. “I am very grateful for these two wonderful and full of coding years,” she said. “From them, I learned that determination can get you anywhere and that ambition is the mother of success.
“I am also very glad to have been taught by amazing lecturers, who opened the world of cyber-security for me by taking us to CyberSpartan 2024, where completion of my first Capture The Flag became a turning point for my career choice. Now I am very excited to start a new chapter of my life in the University of Warwick.”
Before college, Zhanna had already shown resilience and determination, after arriving in Dorset with her mother and learning a new language and building a network of friends while passing her GCSEs.
In her first year at the college, she showed her technical and problem-solving skills, as well as teamwork and leadership. She also won an external Christmas Cyber Challenge competition and, furthermore, led her team to victory in our Christmas Hackathon contest.
Zhanna, who will be studying Cyber Security at university, has been an ambassador for the college’s Digital and Computing teaching by volunteering at Open Events, demonstrating Virtual Reality technology and chatting to prospective students and their families. She has also featured in social media promoting Women in IT and careers in the Digital sector.
She was chosen to take part in Creator Lab, an initiative organised by Mark Masters from small business community You Are The Media with other students. She showed her confidence and networking skills as a welcome host at You Are The Media’s Creator Day at The Lighthouse in Poole.
Lecturer Will Procter praised Zhanna’s attitude throughout her course. “She has been an exceptional student and an absolute pleasure to teach,” he said. “Zhanna approaches everything she does with determination, enthusiasm and a genuine desire to learn.”
Stuart Palmer, Director of Learning, Creative, Digital, Tech & Service Industries, believes she is a role model for young people who may not see themselves represented in technology. “We hope her story will encourage more young women to consider the opportunities available through Digital T Levels and careers in Technology and Cyber Security,” he said.
“Throughout her time at college, Zhanna has demonstrated remarkable resilience, curiosity and enthusiasm for Digital Technology. When she encounters something she does not understand, particularly a challenging programming problem, she does not give up. Instead, she immerses herself in learning until she understands the problem and can find a solution.”
Said Zhanna: “It is an honour to be a girl in STEM, and I hope that my journey will inspire more girls to pursue a future in technology.