Fatoumatta's story is one of incredible courage and commitment, highlighting her journey from The Gambia, through Risedale School (which she left in 2023), to academic success at Darlington College. A truly ambitious and inspiring former pupil, Fatoumatta is now on a remarkable journey of continued growth and achievement.
Congratulations Fatoumatta! Everyone at Risedale School is very proud of your achievements and wishes you all the best for the future.
A Beacon of Determination: Trilingual Student’s Remarkable Journey from The Gambia to Darlington College
A TRILINGUAL student has been hailed a ‘beacon of determination’ after leaving her home in Africa to study in the UK.
Fatoumatta Sisay attended a taster day at Darlington College after moving to North Yorkshire from The Gambia and fell in love with business studies.
The daughter of a British soldier, she has served with distinction and is well on her way to securing top grades in her Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business, an important step towards fulfilling her dream of running her own businesses one day.
The 18-year-old left her home in The Gambia in 2021 to join her father who was serving with the 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, a light mechanised infantry battalion.
When they moved to Catterick Garrison, Fatoumatta attended Risedale School and visited several colleges before deciding on Darlington College.
“My dad came to the UK first and decided we should join him,” said Fatoumatta, who speaks English, Wolof and Mandinka.
“I was excited to be living with my dad again full-time but was sad to leave my friends and other family. It was a great opportunity to get a better education. I do get a bit homesick sometimes but also feel at home here where I now have lots of friends.
“It was easier than I thought adapting. I’d seen the UK in the movies and expected to get bullied but that never happened and everyone at Risedale and Darlington College was so welcoming and supportive.”
She said she had thoroughly enjoyed her Darlington College course and had been securing distinctions in her work.
Fatoumatta recently attended a two week work experience placement in Malta with Zara clothing, as part of the Turing programme, and has now secured a place at Leeds Beckett in Leeds to study a degree in business management and finance, when she will become the first in her family to attend university.
“The dream is to run my own businesses,” she said. “I’d like to run a fashion business with my cousin, Ida, who wants to be a designer. We’d specialise in African wear. I also love baking and cooking, so would be happy to run a bakery and I might end up helping by sister Agie with an accountancy firm too.”
Business and management lecturer Lee Smith said: “Fatoumatta is a beacon of determination and inspiration.
“She has faced and overcome the challenges of a new country, culture and language with quiet determination and extraordinary resilience and her dedication to her studies has been nothing short of remarkable.
“Fatoumatta has shown an unwavering commitment to excellence. Her academic performance has developed, achieving consistent distinction level grades which are a testament to her tireless work ethic and growth mindset.”
He said she caught the bus at 6.50am arriving an hour early to college, ready and eager to learn. Her attendance stood at an exemplary 98 per cent, the highest in her class, and her “cheerful presence uplifts both peers and staff alike”.
“Always smiling, always positive, she embodies the spirit of the college and creates an environment where fellow students feel motivated and valued,” he said.
“Fatoumatta’s dedication extends beyond the classroom. She undertook a demanding retail placement while observing Ramadan and her strength, integrity and humility during this period were truly inspirational.
“Fatoumatta is more than a student, she is a role model, a trailblazer and a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance, kindness, and belief in oneself.”