Ashraful moved to the UK in 2019 at the age of 14 and began secondary school in Newcastle, before later moving to Oldham with his family.
He joined Oldham College in 2022 on the Level 1 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme. After settling into college life, he applied for the Level 2 Public Services course. Ashraful said the early weeks in a new environment were a big adjustment.
“When I first started the course, I was really nervous. Everyone seemed so loud around me and it felt intimidating. I wasn’t confident speaking to staff or making new friends.” he said.
Over time, he felt more at ease and began building friendships.
“I pushed myself to talk to people and make friends, and over time it helped me feel less nervous.”
During this period, Ashraful studied Functional Skills Level 1 in maths and English. He told tutors he wanted to progress to Level 3 Public Services, even though he did not yet meet the typical entry requirements.
“I really wanted to get onto Level 3, so I told my tutors I would work extra hard on my maths and English.”
Ashraful is now working towards GCSE maths and English alongside the Level 3 course.
Outside the classroom, he has taken part in volunteering at Tandle Hill Country Park and in the Fitton Hill community, supporting gardening and conservation work. He has also completed 35 hours of volunteering with Cancer Research UK.
“Volunteering at Tandle Hill Country Park and in Fitton Hill has taught me a lot. I enjoyed helping with the landscaping and chopping down trees because it felt good to do something for the community,” he said.
Ashraful also works part-time at a takeaway in Oldham and says the experience has helped him develop a strong work ethic.
He hopes to become a police officer in the future and has been exploring the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Degree Apprenticeship with support from the Careers team. He is also preparing a university application and is considering courses such as criminology and psychology.
“I want to become a police officer and help protect my community,” he said.
Staff at Oldham College say Ashraful ‘is a lovely young man’ who has made significant progress since joining the College. They highlight recent expeditions to Snowdon and Whernside as moments that helped him grow in confidence and resilience.
Ashraful’s journey shows how learners can succeed when they are supported to build confidence and take on new opportunities.
Ashraful arrived in the UK with limited English. He is now studying Level 3 Public Services and preparing for a future career in policing.
