Graduation Tales | First-class honours for Newport nurse

The International Convention Centre Wales in Newport has once again seen thousands of our graduates cross the stage in their cap and gown. To celebrate, we are sharing the stories of some of our inspirational students.

Mum of four, Rachel Ali-Evans, didn’t follow the traditional route into higher education. Instead, after years of hard work and perseverance, she is graduating from University of South Wales (USW) with a first-class honours degree in Adult Nursing.

Rachel embarked on this new career path by successfully completing an access course at Coleg Gwent, in Newport, then progressed on to a Foundation Degree in Community Health and Wellbeing before she applied to the nursing degree at USW.

She said: “It was two years of study even before the three-year degree. It was a lot to juggle. We have a very busy house. My eldest has moved out but I still have three at home, who are aged between 12 and 22 - plus my husband and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Rachel had a turbulent childhood. She left school and became pregnant with her daughter aged 17.

“I hated school. My childhood was chaotic because my mum had a drinking problem, so I lived with my dad. I should have done better in school. Teachers used to tell my dad I was bright, but I just didn’t like the environment”, she said.

“I left school and worked part-time around my children. Then, it was when my mum became seriously unwell with liver cirrhosis and spent a lot of time in hospital, I decided I wanted to become a nurse. It took me 23 years to achieve my ambition.

“In 2017, I thought, it’s now or never. I won’t say it has been easy. There were times when it was really difficult trying to juggle assignments, work placements, running a house, and just trying to keep things as normal as I could. My daughter was extremely unwell with glandular fever for 18 months as well, so that was a tough time.”

“My family have been so supportive though.”

It was during her work placements that Rachel realised she found community nursing the most rewarding.

She said: “My first placement was on a Covid ward, which was very intense in 2020. I had other hospital placements, but I really enjoyed being out in the community more. I like the continuity of care and getting to know my patients.”

Now Rachel works with the Central West team in Newport. She said: “Our role is to visit people, in their own homes, to take care of them. It's so varied and interesting, but I still have lots to learn.”

After studying hard for five years, Rachel still had some imposter syndrome to overcome.

“The transition from being a student to becoming qualified was daunting. I had to take a step back and remind myself that I am newly-qualified and to be kind to myself,” she said.

“Graduation will be the final step in realising my dream. There were times when I wanted to give up, but I knew that no one could do it for me and I had to prove this to myself. Determination got me there I the end.”