Testimonials / Course Reviews -

".....In the face of adversity".... Well....I'm disabled and constantly use crutches. I suppose many would consider that adversity to a degree. My hard drive died and I had to correspond using snail mail. Another adversity? I'm a mother of 2 primary school aged boys, and my husband works shifts. Perhaps that is a 3rd adversity, I don't know.

".....Working under pressure".... My 2 sons are hard work at their age, so yes, pressure is a constant from that point of view. We are a single waged family, moved into a new home last July, and seldom have any spare cash. The pressure is on me to complete this course, pass the exams and make some money as soon as is realistically possible really.

"....Gained an excellent understanding". I dare anyone who is following the course and utilising the support and extra resources available to say they have not been able to do this. Maybe my standards are too high, or my expectations of others equally so? I'm not qualified to say.

"....Managed to increase your TMA results..." I found my last section hard....very hard. I don't think I'm a natural at understanding server administration. Somehow, I managed to get 3/5 results at 100%. Yes, I'm more than pleased with that, so I suppose I could "qualify" for that particular point.

But here is my problem. Maybe it is that I don't value myself enough, or something built into my conscience that won't allow me to say "I am the best". Therefore, I cannot sit here and say "I should win the student of the month". I cannot allow myself to do that.

What I can say is this: I undertook this course to achieve a goal. My goal is one that will benefit both myself, and my family, should I make the grade. That, and that alone is my driving force. It is my responsibility to improve our collective way of life, because I undertook the mission laid out before me. I cannot, and will not say that I deserve more or less than any other student on any course in this programme. Other people also suffer adversities or pressures, or do better than they expected to do. That, my friends, is life. None of us have the right to declare they are better than anyone else, in any way, shape or form. Nor has anyone the right to demote themselves or others into a place deemed to be of less importance or standing.

So, dear readers, I leave this message in your hands. I would like for you to decide whether or not to submit this as an entry for student of the month. If it is submitted and I win, thank you. If not, then I have achieved here what I intended to do, from a personal point of view, and that is to get something off my chest. I in no way think this competition is wrong, or to be frowned upon. That is not my intention. However, I felt the need to express something which has given me much food for though.

In short, I do not sit here with any expectations, other than those I can commit to achieving myself. If others think highly enough of me to present me with an accolade of any sort, I thank them. Heartily. But I will not shine a spotlight upon myself without either the support of others, or rather, the presence of others standing in the light beside me. They deserve to be there as much as I might ever do.

Thank you for listening. 

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

Hi
This is the first time I have entered into student of the month. Just thought I would tell you about my progress so far. I started the web design course last September. This was probably a bad time to start as both my parents and parent-in-law's were going through a divorce, and this made home life quite difficult (as you could probably tell as my first results were only 65%). The year gradually got worse as my brother was very ill and passed away on Christmas eve, aged 30. It was originally his idea for me to do this course, as he knew I was no longer enjoying my current job and was looking for somthing different. I had most of January off and decided it was a good time to try and get back on track with this course. I have since re-sat the first section and passed it scoring 100%, my last two sections I have scored 95% and 80%. which were also classed as passes. I hope to keep up this level and try to pass this course ASAP. I know my brother would be proud of me if I did (and would like to take some credit as it was his idea), so that's what I intend to do. This is not probably what you would class as student of the month material, but I would just like to say you can do well at things if you put your mind to it, no matter what life throws at you.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

This has been a month of real hardship, 3 deaths inside two weeks and changes at work - the pressure has been on.

It started when my fiancee's Gran became ill, and was rushed to hospital for surgery.Within 24 hours she never regained conciousness and passed away quietly. The funeral was set for last Wednesday and we of course attended, after the wake Louise and myself were hanging around town waiting to collect our two young children from nursery when we got a phone call.

My own Gran - a long time sufferer from alzheimers, was deteroirating fast, we rushed to the home to find my mother and uncles at her bedside. A frail shell of a person laid in the bed, unregognizable to me as my gran. We hung out a while with family but still had the children to collect. We departed, collected the kids and took them home so I could return to the rest home. Within seconds of arriving home we got the call - she'd gone.

The last on was the greatest shock of all, I work permanent nights at the moment in a supermarket - hence the career change - the only positive aspect of my current job is the people that we get to meet. My fiancee and I met through our jobs. Saturday night typically for me is sorting out a aisle devestated after frenzied Saturday afternoon shoppers, its hard physical graft and tough mentally to keep focused.

This Saturday was different in that my manager for the night recieved a paniced phone call mid-shift, Jim a character of immense proportions had just been found uncouncious covered in blood outside a friends house. Jim died two days later, he was 26. Eight years younger than myself.

Despite this terrible fortnight I have still manged to get through reading,labs and TMA's on the latest stage of my course. The things that have happened have given me an even greater push to not only complete my course but to finish it well and make the most of the time I have. Thanks to my course, I have focus and in turn have given my family focus on where we all want to be in a few years from now.

Joan, Isabella and Jim will all be missed.

Louise, Joshua and Madison we'll get there.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

This month I started the CIW web design course. Being in the building trade I have a bit of time on my hands at this time of year (rain stops play!). Since the 28th of last month I have submited 4 TMA's with only TMA03 having to be resubmitted! Considering the fact that until last month if something wasn't made of brick or timber I didn't know what to do with it, I feel quite chuffed!
My partner is on the last year of her degree and doing a full time job, so I am having to do the lions share of the housework at the mo' also!!!
Its all good stuff and the thought of working hard to ensure the kids have a good future has spurred her on for the last five years of study, so know its my turn!
Wish I had done it sooner! Thanks skillstrain

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I feel that I have achieved more than I thought possible this month. I have just got a new job as a Teaching assistant, supporting children with special educational needs, in their ICT lessons. The knowledge I have gained so far in this course has been so valuable to me and has enabled me to gain new skills to pass onto children and young people. It feels great to be able to use what I know to help others, even though I'm still learning myself.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

At first I thought I should be the student of the month because my birthday falls on March, thinking again I think it's about making a statement, looking back then and then looking now here, at where you are.

My Dad was assassinated while I was in Africa(I guess politics would never change) then my Mum came a year later and took me to Belgium(she's a Belgium national),I did my orientation , l studied the language(as much as I could) and then moved to the United Kingdom to school.

In January, my sisters friend told us about SkillsTrain.If the truth be told, all this time I wish I could say or was certain about what I really wanted to do but in the mist of everything and starting all over again without friends mentors and Families I think I just lost it.

I had wanted to become a doctor but in reality I could see it wasn't going to be possible, not anymore and the reasons are ...Complicated, Let's just say using the smart acronym it was specific, attainable, measurable and Time bound but not realistic, not anymore.

SkillsTrain has kept me back on track,My sister and I are student with skillsTrain and I read and have to understand for Me and her as she goes to University and I have to explains things to her as she has little or no time and we're doing just fine or rather we're doing too well.

At this point I would like to thank you guys at SkillsTrain for breaking down your books and the whole study materials, it's made study really easy.

Skillstrain helps me look forward and the month of March has made me understand more than ever.

The month of March!!!It's been good but schooling with SkillsTrain has been better.

Thank You. 

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I think that I have progressed well in my IT course and achieved a number of key targets. I have impaired hearing and find it difficult to understand specific words in the course. However, I have worked hard to overcome my difficulties in following the course by asking my tutors questions and persevering in order to understand highly complex and technical concepts. I think I have achieved good marks in my coursework and now have a good knowledge of IT, something which I can say I did not have before. I hope the course will significantly improve my career prospects.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I started my web site design manager's course with no previous knowledge of computers and never used one. I can happily say I can now talk 'IT' with my friends without feeling on the outside of conversations. I have finally got to grips with the initial html/xhtml language which I was very nervous about. My girlfriend is now pregnant and if my course continues to progress well, we May all have a better future.
Thanks skillstrain!

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

I was made redundant after thirty years in the catering industry at Christmas 2006. I enrolled with Skillstrain, and started my course in January of this year. Because of the knowledge I have already gained from studying the course materials, I have managed to get a job, not only in IT, but actually showing people how to use their computers.

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |

Recently I changed ISP, because I've moved house. It took quite a while for my new ISP to send me the new modem and installation pack, so I tried to connect my wireless router what I used before with my previous ISP. I could see that I have DSL connection, but I still could not reach the Internet. Thanks for my studying about wireless networking, I could find enough information to set up the router, and now I have a secured, fast wireless internet. My neighbour is an old lady, who is also started to study how to use computer, and she likes history. I took my laptop to her, so she could use my internet to find information about her relatives even from 18th century!

SkillsTrain courses studied: Web Designer (CIW) |