‘Don’t give up on your dream’ – that’s the inspirational message from cancer survivor Kamaria Mohamed who went back to the classroom to retake her GCSEs.
As thousands of young people received their GCSE results this week, Kamaria says don’t give up on your dream career, even if you don’t get the results you need first time.
Kamaria, now aged 29, didn’t get the grades she needed when she was 16, but was determined to retake her GCSEs at some point.
She retook her English and Maths GCSE to meet the entry requirements for a degree course in Psychology and Counselling.
Then, at the age of just 25, the Ward End, Birmingham resident was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer and started an intense course of treatment that involved chemotherapy, an operation and radio therapy. Despite this, she decided to go back to studying and this time achieved the grades she needed.
It was the support that Kamaria received from counsellors during her treatment that inspired her to pursue a career in which she could help others going through difficult times.
After gaining her Maths and English GCSE, Kamaria went on to complete the Access to Higher Education Diploma in Social Sciences and Health, achieving distinctions in all of her assignments and impressing her tutors with her resilience and enthusiasm.
Kamaria, who starts a Psychology and Counselling degree in September, said: “I always knew that I wanted to be in a job where I could help people from all walks of life. Going through cancer treatment made me even more determined to achieve my goal.
“When I came across the pre-access course, although I was nervous, the tutor talked me through the process which put my mind at ease and gave me the confidence to pursue this route.
“My advice to young people still unsure of what they want to do in life is to keep a positive mindset and find something you have a passion for. You may not have the grades you need but you can retake and look into other routes you can pursue to get to where you want to be.
“Whatever happens, don’t give up on your dream.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “Kamaria’s determination and emotional journey is truly inspirational.
“Her experience is proof that with perseverance and the right support you can achieve your dreams.”
