Husband’s death drove Serena to fulfil dream

A WOMAN who lost both her father and husband within 10 years of each other has fulfilled her dream of studying to become a nurse.

Serena Bonsall, above, said it was the death of her husband that drove her to achieve her lifelong goal and get back into education after she was made redundant.

Her determination has seen her win the Agored Cymru Access to Higher Education Learner of the Year Award 2016 for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Serena, 28, was only 17 when her father died.

She said: “I had just completed three AS-levels when my father passed away tragically. We were extremely close and he was a massive influence in my life.

“Life came to a standstill and I didn’t know what to do. I knew I couldn’t continue with my studies so I dropped out of sixth form.”

Over the next few months, she started working as a healthcare assistant in a care home for the elderly in Tenby, gradually working her way up to become a deputy manager.

In 2009, Serena met her husband and two years later they got married.

But in early 2012, he tragically died. Serena said it was his wish that she should continue studying.

She said: “We had the most incredible three years together. He was the most amazing man.

“He truly believed in me and always encouraged me to think about going to university.”

After Serena was made redundant from a job as a QCF Assessor, she took the plunge and enrolled at Coleg Sir Gâr in Carmarthen studying healthcare.

She said: “When I was made redundant, I thought it’s now or never.

“It was an incredibly challenging but rewarding time. I didn’t want to just pass the course, I wanted to smash it. I wanted to know what I was really capable of.”

She was awarded the Agored Cymru Access to Higher Education Learner of the Year Award 2016 for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Now Serena is fulfiling her dream of studying for a degree in adult nursing at Swansea University.