A Strabane man who returned to education in his 40s after being on benefits for 20 years has spoken of his pride as he gets ready to start his new business.
Adrian Brown was diagnosed with a heart condition at five years old which led to him missing significant parts of his schooling through hospital visits.
He left school with no qualifications and ‘wandered aimlessly’ for many years, before reinventing himself after having a young family.
“With me missing that much school it had a detrimental effect on my education, many years I was missing maybe a third of the school year if not more” Adrian told MyTyrone.
“By the time then it came to leaving school I had no qualifications and I was on benefits for 20 years.
“I just wandered aimlessly and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I knew I missed out and I knew I could do more."
After turning 40 and having three kids, Adrian decided to return to education for his own sake as well as his children’s.
That led to him seeking help with the local Strabane Community Unemployment Group, before progressing to North West Regional College.
Now he has recently graduated from Letterkenny Institute of Technology with a degree in graphic design and is on the verge of setting up his own business.
“Once I progressed I just realised that I wanted to better myself,” Adrian added.
“I started looking at my kids and I didn’t want them thinking that I was a bum.
“I didn’t want that and it horrified me in a way, I wanted to do something to make my kids proud of me. Hopefully I can pass that on to them.
“I’m getting my small graphic design business ready now, I’m just in the process of doing up my website and tidying up a few projects from college.”
Adrian said he also has plans to work with people in the Strabane area to improve their employment opportunities, and added that there were opportunities out there for everyone.
“The only advice I would give them is find out what you really like to do and hone in on that,” he said.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of some of the qualifications I have now ten years ago.
“If I can pass that on to others that want to learn then that would be even better.”
