When Lily-Rose Cinnamond (18, from Dromore) completed her GCSEs at Dromore High School, she expected to continue to A-levels. However, a change in circumstances prompted her to explore alternative options, leading her to discover a passion for creative media at SERC.
Lily-Rose first became aware of SERC through its open days and decided to attend to learn more about the courses available. It was during a presentation on media studies that she found a pathway that immediately appealed to her.
“I had originally planned to do A-levels, but things changed and I began looking at other options,” explained Lily-Rose.
“I attended an open day at the college’s Lisburn Campus, and the media course really caught my eye. I was interested in journalism and thought it could be a route into that area of the industry. After hearing more about the course, I decided to apply.”
Lily-Rose initially enrolled on the Level 2 Traineeship in Media, before progressing to the Level 3 Creative Media course, where she has just completed her first year of study. She said, “The Level 2 course gave me an excellent foundation for progressing to Level 3. It helped me develop a good understanding of the specialist software used to create films, graphics and for editing images. Having that experience made the transition to Level 3 much easier and allowed me to continue building my skills.”
Although starting college meant meeting new people and adapting to a different environment, Lily-Rose quickly settled into student life, she added, “It didn’t take long to feel comfortable. Most of my classmates were new to me, but I enjoyed the fresh start. I had a few friends studying on other courses, but otherwise everything was new and exciting.”
One of the aspects of the course Lily-Rose enjoys most is the creative freedom it offers. She explained, “For many of the projects, we are given a brief and then have the freedom to develop our own ideas. You can be really creative as long as you meet the requirements of the project. I especially enjoy photography. We can book specialist equipment, including professional cameras, which I often take home or out to local parks to practise. I’ve also loved learning Photoshop and experimenting with different ways to edit and enhance my images.”
Lily-Rose praised both the facilities and the support available to students at SERC. She said, “The facilities are fantastic, especially for Creative Media. The tutors are incredibly supportive and encourage you to achieve the grades you want. Everything you need for the course is available, and if you need help there is always someone willing to assist.”
Looking ahead, Lily-Rose hopes to progress to higher education after completing her Level 3 qualification. While journalism remains an area of interest, she is also considering creative careers in set design or costume design. “At the minute I’m keeping my options open,” she said.
“The course has introduced me to so many different aspects of the creative industries and given me a much better understanding of the opportunities available.”
Offering her experience to other young people who are uncertain about their next steps after GCSEs she said, “College is a completely different environment and gives you the opportunity to thrive. There is support for everyone at SERC and, for many people, it could be the perfect next step. I’m really glad I chose this route.”
