Oksana Iatsenko

I came to England from Ukraine in 2022 after the war broke out. At first, like many others, I held on to the hope that I would be able to return home soon. I was living in uncertainty, waiting for the moment when it would be safe again. However, as time went on, I realized I had to start building a new life here in England, not just for the short term, but for my future. 

That is when I decided to focus on learning English, and I found my way to WAES. It was my first step towards finding stability and purpose in England. After completing an English course, I was thrilled to be enrolled onto the Digital Marketing course. This was a turning point, which opened new doors and gave me the confidence to keep moving forward. While I was studying English Functional Skills, I also enrolled on the Level 2 Digital Marketing course. It was a completely new area for me. However, the more I learned, the more it excited me. I found myself really connecting with the subject and I knew I wanted to go further. After completing Level 2, I did not hesitate to move straight into the Level 3 Digital Marketing course. It confirmed what I had already begun to feel that digital marketing is the path I want to follow. I am focused on building a career in this field now. This is not just a course for me, it is the foundation of my future. 

In the Level 2 Digital Marketing course, we learned the key principles of digital marketing — things like how to use social media, email campaigns and online advertising effectively. When I progressed to Level 3, we went much deeper. We developed skills in areas like social media for E-Commerce, Project Management, Digital Graphics and Animation, Digital Marketing Metrics and Analytics and of course, Social Media Marketing (SMM). It was a big step up, which really helped me grow both personally and professionally. 

One of the things I enjoyed the most was working in small groups. The teacher would give us tasks, collaborate to create a marketing solution then we presented our results to the rest of the class. I loved hearing different ideas and sharing our own. It created such a supportive, creative atmosphere in class. We also had different engaging activities throughout the course, which I genuinely enjoyed every one of them. A highlight for me was a one day’s work experience at Mount Anvil, where I got to work alongside my course mates in a genuine business environment. It was an incredible experience that gave me a taste of what a career in digital marketing could look like.  And of course, I will never forget the little celebration we had at the end of the course with tea and sweets. It might seem like a small thing, but those moments created a truly warm, friendly environment, which made all of us feel connected and proud of what we had achieved together. Within the course, I have also supported my classmates during group work and shared ideas to help us all succeed. It felt good to be part of a community where we helped each other through challenges and celebrated each other’s progress. The entire structure of the course was well-organised and designed to help us succeed not only in our studies, but also in preparing for real career opportunities.

The teaching and support I received at WAES made a significant difference in my journey. I gained not only valuable knowledge and practical experience, but also the confidence and motivation to start pursuing the job, which I love. All the teachers and the Careers Support team at WAES were very supportive and helpful throughout my studies. I never felt alone, because they created a positive, welcoming environment where I felt safe to grow and push myself forward. That kind of support makes all the difference.    

My greatest achievement at WAES was the project “Creative Brief. Digital Marketing Proposal. Digital Marketing Campaign” within which I created my own personal brand, which is a coffee shop. Based on this, I developed all the next projects work around it. This experience was incredibly empowering. I did not just learn theory, I applied it in a real, creative and personal way. I designed a full digital marketing campaign from scratch, including branding, strategy, content ideas and promotional plans. It was the first time I felt like a digital marketer, not just a student.  Building my own brand helped me discover my creativity, strengthen my skills, and gave me a clear understanding of what I want to do in the future. It made me proud of how far I have come and excited about where I am going. 

This course has opened so many doors for me and helped me take real steps toward building my future. I am incredibly excited to have been offered a summer internship with Influential Music as a Music Promotion Assistant. I will be working remotely. I deeply appreciate this opportunity through WAES- it feels like a big step into the real world of digital marketing, so I am really looking forward to getting started. 

In addition to that, I have already applied for the WAES Level 2 Creative Media Production and Technology, which starts in September 2025. I believe this course will help me expand my creative and technical skills even further, giving me more tools to express myself and to contribute meaningfully to the community. This journey has made me believe in myself and now I am more motivated than ever to keep learning, growing, and building a career of which I am proud. My learning journey has had a meaningful impact on the people around me. My family and friends have seen how much I have grown in confidence and skills since starting at WAES. They told me they feel inspired by my determination to adapt, learn and move forward, even after leaving everything behind in Ukraine. 

Outside of class, I have been actively looking for ways to contribute. I once applied for a Marketing and Social Media Volunteer position at Grand Junction. Although I did not get the role, it has not discouraged me, on the contrary, it motivated me even more. I plan to continue applying for volunteer roles where I can use my new skills to support local organisations or community projects. I genuinely believe in the power of learning not only for personal progress, but also for making a positive difference in the lives of others. 

If you are thinking about studying at WAES — do it. Do not let fear or uncertainty hold you back. When I arrived in the UK, I did not know what start from. I started by learning English and slowly found my way to the Digital Marketing course. Today, I have completed both Level 2 and Level 3, created my own brand, gained practical experience and even been offered a summer internship in my chosen field.  You do not need to have it all figured out! You just need to take the first step. At WAES, you will find incredible tutors, a supportive team and a welcoming learning environment that helps you grow in ways you never expected. They believed in me from the start, and that gave me the strength to believe in myself. Success is possible here. Real success. You can see it from my story. And if I can do it, so can you.