Married Bath couple Candita and Mike Wooten are preparing to go to university together after passing the same college course with the same grade.
They are now a step closer to their dream careers after “giving education another go” and returning to Bath College as mature students.
The couple achieved 100% distinctions in their Access to Higher Education Diplomas and will start Bournemouth University in September.
Candita, 22, enrolled on the year-long course in 2013 and Mike was inspired to follow in her footsteps when he saw how much she was enjoying learning.
She deferred her university place for a year so that she could “swap places” with her husband and he could take the same course.
Candita will be studying midwifery at university, while Mike will study social work. They will be moving from Bath to Bournemouth with their three-year-old daughter Leia.
Mike, 23, said: “I was working full-time in McDonalds when I decided to do the same as Candita and go back to College.
“It wasn’t planned, it was only when I saw her doing so well on the course that I realised that I also wanted to give education another go.
“Growing up in care, I’d always thought about being a social worker to help others but I didn’t ever really have anyone telling me to do well in school.
“Then I saw Candita going places. She was working hard and earning the top grades while enjoying it all. That’s when I knew, she inspired me.”
The couple say “it’s as if it was all planned” as “it all turned out so well” with their roles reversing from one year to the next.
When one of them was at college, the other one worked full-time.
Candita said: “I’m surprised at how things have turned out, but it’s great that we’re both sharing this journey.
“I was at College for a year; then I worked as Mike went to College for a year. And now we’re going to university as a family.
“It’s not going to be easy for both of us to juggle education and childcare, but this is what we have to do. We will continue to rely on each other as we work towards our new careers.”
City of Bath College’s Access to Higher Education course helps mature students to develop their skills, confidence and educational potential in preparation for degree or diploma level study.
Candita said: “I’ve always wanted to go to university, and it’s always been my dream to become a midwife.
“After my A-Levels, we got a flat together, I ended up working in insurance and I just thought university wouldn’t happen.
“But going back to college was great. It was intense but such good fun, I think I enjoyed the pressure!
“I can’t recommend the Access to HE course enough, it’s opened up doors for both of us.”
