We sat down with Horticulture student Ben Freeston-Silva to discuss his time at the college, his experience with student support, his advice for new students and his plans for the future!
What do you study?
Level 3 Horticulture.
What interested you in studying with SMB College Group?
It was horticulture that sparked my interest in SMB College Group as I wanted to study something in garden design, but it was the people I met at the open day that helped me decide to study with the College.
What interested you in studying with SMB College Group?
My favourite part of studying with the College was definitely the people, my lecturers, learning support staff and students. They all made for such a wonderful atmosphere and place to be.
What’s your proudest achievement during your time at the college?
One of my proudest achievements at college was overcoming my anxiety in driving a tractor! As silly as that sounds. I always worried about using machinery, it was driving a tractor that was my first step in overcoming my anxieties and working towards many more achievements.
But I have to say that my greatest achievement from my time at college was winning this year’s Brooksby Horticulture Award from the Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust. The award to me was the embodiment of all that I accomplished at the College and I’m so proud of how far I’ve come.
How have the learning support team helped you?
The learning support team helped me so much just by being a listening ear. I had a lot of frustrations and worries and they just listened and helped me work through my difficulties. I talked so much and had so much to say, I really did need to be able to express myself to someone. There would be many times that I would be worried about doing a task and I would be able to talk about it with them, they would help me open up to the idea of doing what I was worried about. They also able to help me share issues to my lecturers.
What have you struggled with, and how have your tutors supported you?
I have struggled with performing tasks in front of other people, practical tasks like driving a tractor or cutting a hedge. My lecturers always supported me by coming up with ways to lessen my fears and anxieties around these tasks. This would be to give me a quick one to one so that I can understand the task better as my worries lay in making a mistake, or to have others leave so that there are fewer people around. Also, just giving me a boost of confidence and reassuring words. I found that I highly valued having a genuine and personal conversation in working through these worries and anxieties.
What is your best piece of advice for people who have just started or who have applied to start the course in September?
My piece of advice to new students is to have faith in yourself. Be open and honest when you're struggling. Be it to lecturers, learning supports or even just college staff, such as reception/office staff and student services. There are some really lovely people. If you have any worries or aren't sure what to do reach out to them and just be yourself. It's their job to help you, so let them.
There are going to be struggles in many things you face but you will be able to do it! Please trust yourself and try to trust others. SMB College has a lot to offer. It can be scary, I know I was scared! Terrified even. That's not to take away from what you are or may be going through but to share that you ARE actually NOT alone! That there are other people who are experiencing something similar and perhaps we can all learn to share the struggles together and make our lives a better place. Take it from me who had a great deal of anxiety coming to college. I didn't think I'd be able to do it and I was absolutely terrified. But I did it and I found good people.
You may need to take lots of photos depending on what course you're doing so make sure to! It will help in a lot of your work. Organise the photos into simple folders on your phone, staying on top of your work really helps and just try your best, it's enough. You may find that by the end of the year you start to feel burnt out so try to pace yourself. Set realistic goals but allow yourself to reach your potential. Change is big and scary but we all face it and its going to be ok, it's necessary and takes time.
I would like to add these staff names to let new students know who is there at college to help!
Michelle Glover, Carolyn Taylor, Jane Carr, Faye Gardner and Lorraine Cox. There are many others, but these people have especially helped me in the past year.
If you're on the horticulture course or countryside management you may have lecturers Rog Hunt, Anthony Riddington, Joanne Wilkes or Nathan Craddock. They are all such wonderful and hardworking people. They've withstood me for the past few years ... and I’m sure you won’t be worse than that ha-ha!
What are your plans after leaving College?
My plans after leaving college are to study and continue on with horticulture at university. I'd like to get a part time job over summer and work on some things to prepare for university!
I couldn’t have done it without all the friends amongst the members of staff. I really couldn’t. So, thank you!
There’s still time to apply for full-time programmes and apprenticeships at SMB College Group’s specialist land-based Brooksby Campus! Or if you’re interested in learning more about studying with the College in the future, come along to one of our open days now available for 2024 entry! - https://www.smbcollegegroup.ac.uk/