From Coleg Menai Student President to PhD Researcher
Since leaving Coleg Menai almost ten years ago, former Student Union President, Connie Pike, reflects on the “academic confidence” and “light bulb” moments that fuelled her journey from A-Level success to pioneering research in Criminal Justice.
A foundation of excellence
It all started at Coleg Menai where Connie studied A Level Psychology, English Language and Literature and Mathematics, plus an AS Level in Chemistry, achieving an impressive A*ABC set of results.
Voted Student Union President in her last year, college also presented Connie with many other milestones, such as attending a Sutton Trust summer school at Cambridge University and taking a Level 1 HSK Mandarin exam through the Confucius Institute at Bangor University.
"I look back fondly at the opportunities that were presented to me during my time at Coleg Menai, all of which nurtured my academic confidence," Connie reflects.
From Liverpool to Glasgow
After leaving Coleg Menai, Connie went on to study for a BSc in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), graduating with a First-Class Certificate. Next came an MA in Criminal Justice at LJMU, for which she received a Distinction Certificate.
Connie is now in the fourth year of her PhD in Criminal Justice at LJMU, after receiving a Vice Chancellor PhD scholarship.
Her professional life has been equally impactful. While studying, Connie worked with The Whitechapel Centre, a homelessness charity in Liverpool, and served as a Criminal Justice Recovery Coordinator for the Probation Service in Manchester. In 2022, her research took her to Glasgow, where she is currently investigating residential rehabilitation services for families battling substance addiction.
Memories of Menai
Despite how far she’s come, there are memorable moments from her time at Coleg Menai that stand out for Connie. She recalls the "light bulb moments" in Mechanics made possible by lunch-hour support from her Maths teacher, and the "captivating stories" told in Psychology.
"I felt that my teachers were supportive, personable, and realistic," she says. "They were very influential in that period of my life, and I feel very lucky to have been taught by them."
Whether it was a quiet Friday afternoon with a hot chocolate in English class or revision and mind-mapping sessions in the library, Connie views Coleg Menai as the essential starting point for her academic career.
Interested in starting your own story with us? To find out how far a course at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai could take you visit our website: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/course-type/full-time-further-education
