Students who changed paths are recognised in national awards

Hanaa Metcalfe and Elena Brake and are shortlisted for a prize after bravely changing careers
Hanaa Metcalfe and Elena Brake

Two University of Plymouth students who have changed direction in their study and careers have been shortlisted for a national award.
Elena Brake, who studies Mechanical Engineering, and Hanaa Metcalfe, who studies Dietetics, have been shortlisted for the Career Changer of the Year prize in the Undergraduate of the Year awards, run by careers hub, targetjobs.
Elena originally pursued a career as an art technician, and changed path to engineering after being inspired by her dad and realising her problem solving abilities.
Hanaa joined the Royal Navy aged 18 with ambitions of one day pursuing higher education, and took the plunge into dietetics 10 years later after realising it encompassed everything she had always wanted to do.
The awards will be announced on 25 April in London – see the full shortlist.

It’s amazing to be shortlisted for a national award in my first year of university.

Doing what I can to help others lead healthy lives regarding fitness and nutrition have always been really important to me, so dietetics was the career I’d been looking for without even realising. 
My job in the Royal Navy was very different from what I do now, but the discipline, attention to detail and problem solving I have developed are definitely helpful. I’m having a great time on the course in Plymouth, and look forward to the awards in London.

Dietetics student, Hanaa Metcalfe 

Finding out I was shortlisted into the top 10 for this award was such a great feeling!

It means so much to me to feel recognised for my career change from arts to engineering which has been a challenging but exciting journey so far.
I'm really looking forward to the Grand Final in London where I'll have the chance to meet and network with the other Undergraduate of the Year finalists from across the UK.

Mechanical Engineering student, Elena Brake 

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Mechanical Engineering student Elena Brake

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