A Dundee woman who overcame adversity to triumph in education has been honoured at an awards ceremony.
Charlene Ogilvie, 27, was one of 70 students recognised at the Dundee and Angus College awards ceremony at the Gardyne Theatre.
Hundreds of parents, friends and family attended the ceremony and principal Christina Potter, along with sponsors from industry and commerce, presented the awards to the students.
The final honours to be presented were cross-discipline prizes given to students who not only excelled in their chosen subject but have overcome adversity on the way.
One of those awarded was Charlene, who spent much of her childhood looking after her mother who suffered from severe mental illness.
It was not until she moved in with a friend’s parents in S4 that she engaged with education.
Despite this, the science student was presented with the Ede and Ravenscroft Prize for Outstanding Endeavour, and the Axis Shield Prize for outstanding achievement in Life Science.
“My mum was bi-polar and, as she was a single parent, I was often sent to live with relatives in England so even my very early schooling was disrupted,” she said.
“By the time I went into P5 I had already realised that Mum needed constant monitoring to ensure she was safe, so I didn’t go to school.
“When I was 15 I moved in with a friend’s parents and they really made a difference to my life, encouraging me to study and teaching me boundaries.”
Charlene’s education was dealt another blow when, while studying for her Highers, she become pregnant and had to leave school.
History was to repeat itself when she came to college, aged 20, to study HNC applied science. She fell pregnant a second time and, despite being a grade-A student, having a baby put paid to her studies.
Six years on, after having a third child with partner Darren, Charlene was determined to pick up where she left off and complete her studies and returned to college in 2013. Charlene excelled in every area of her HNDC biomedical course and has now been offered a place at St Andrews University.