Shaolan was brought up in the care home system and did not have the regular guidance, and direction or confidence given by parents.  But she adapted to this and found it at school and through the education system.  This was her escape route out of the hard and challenging times. But adversity came again, in the form of alcohol addiction, which put her on the brink of death but she has beaten and now lives as a recovering addict, but it left Shaolan needing guidance and direction, so once again she turned to her old friend – education.
Shaolan now has greater self confidence and although it would be wrong to ascribe it all to returning to learning, education does provide her with a focus and a structure to her life.
Her plans now are bright and hopeful, she wants do a degree in psychology and in her wildest dreams a masters degree.  Right now Shaolan is doing a certificate of Higher Education in Social and Community studies which links in perfectly with her achieving her ambitions.
Shaolan Menzies, age 29, from Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
Nominated by Ray Mason, C G Partnership