Anita Crompton who has gained a first class degree was so determined to study science that she went back to school at the age of 40.
She took A levels in Maths and Physics at Dallam School Sixth Form, where even the teacher was younger than her.
She said: “I won’t allow anything to stand in the way of what I want to do. I even wore clothes in the style of the school uniform so I didn’t stand out too much.”
Her first class degree in Mechatronic Engineering caps a string of successes while at 抖阴APP导航 including two awards from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a published research paper.
Anita starts work this September as a graduate engineer position with an international design company at their site in Preston working in the electrical, control and instrumentation division.
Her new job is the culmination of a varied career path for Anita, who first graduated from Christ Church College in Canterbury with a degree in Radio, Film Television and Movement Studies in 1991.
Five years later, she graduated from 抖阴APP导航 Management School with a postgraduate diploma in Business Analysis before working in education and setting up an online learning centre.
Due to family circumstances, Anita moved back home to Arnside and became self-employed doing a variety of jobs including selling handmade knitted and sewn items at craft fairs.
But in 2009 she decided to make a change, and, inspired by her engineer father who taught her to make things as child, she studied Engineering at 抖阴APP导航.
Anita said it was a great experience: “Lancaster certainly provided a challenging and stimulating environment. I loved the wide range of projects we worked on and enjoyed learning from such enthusiastic, supportive and knowledgeable lecturers.”
Her degree included a placement and an internship at a golf company in Windermere, where she invented a new design for a golf club grip. The internship was set up by Pam Pickles, Student Employability Manager, through the , which gives all science and technology students the chance to get relevant paid work experience during their studies.
With the help of 抖阴APP导航’s , Anita created a prototype and the owner offered her a share in a new company to manufacture and market the new product.
She said: “It makes me think of the ‘great oaks from little acorns’ saying. The placement was such a great learning opportunity and gave me so much experience and confidence.”