Leila Farajijoorabi
Course Studied: Post-14 Education and Training - Certificate in Education
“I came to the UK with a background in art, not education. But step by step, with the right support, I discovered my passion for teaching. University Centre Leeds helped me believe in myself and now I’m helping others to do the same.”
For Leila Farajijoorabi, education has never been a straight line - and that is exactly what makes her story so powerful.
Originally from Iran and trained as a painter, Leila arrived in the UK facing a completely new language, culture, and education system. She began her journey at Leeds City College with Entry 3 English, unsure of where it might lead. But tutors quickly recognised her determination and encouraged her to aim higher - starting with GCSEs in Maths and English. That moment changed everything.
“I didn’t come here to be a teacher,” Leila says. “But once I started learning, I realised teaching was something I really wanted to do.”
When COVID-19 forced education online, Leila used the time to grow. She completed Level 2 and Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualifications at Park Lane, developing her understanding of how to support learners with different needs. As soon as schools and colleges reopened, she secured a job as a Teaching Assistant achieved her Level 3 Maths qualification in the same year.
Her ambition didn’t stop there. In 2022, Leila enrolled at University Centre Leeds to study the Certificate in Education (Post-14 Education and Training). For two years, she balanced full-time motherhood, part-time work, and full-time study - an extraordinary achievement that required resilience, discipline, and belief.
“I was doing three jobs at once,” she laughs. “But the support from my tutors at UC Leeds made me feel like I wasn’t alone. They believed in me, even when I was doubting myself.”
As a bilingual student, Leila had to adjust to a UK education system that encourages questioning, reflection, and independent thinking. It was very different from what she was used to, but it helped her grow.
“I learned that asking questions is not weakness,” she explains. “Even small questions matter. That’s how you really understand.”
That mindset now shapes the way she teaches. Leila works with adult learners who may feel anxious, uncertain, or behind - just as she once did. Her message is simple and powerful: progress happens through small, consistent steps.
“If you give even a little time every day to your development, after a few years it creates something big,” she tells her students. “It’s never too late.”
After graduating from UC Leeds, Leila successfully applied for a teaching role and is now a Maths Teaching Assistant for 19+ students at Leeds City College’s Enfield Campus and helps others gain the qualifications and confidence they need to move forward.
And her own journey is far from over. Leila is preparing to begin Level 5 Maths at Bradford College, with the long-term goal of teaching A-level Maths.
Her resilience was tested even further during a period when both she and her daughter required surgery. Throughout that time, her UC Leeds tutors, particularly Joe, provided flexibility, understanding, and one-to-one support to help her keep going.
“That support showed me it’s okay not to be perfect,” Leila says. “It’s okay to ask for help.”
Today, Leila brings all her experiences - as a mother, a migrant, a student, and a teacher - into the classroom. She challenges her learners to believe in themselves, even when the journey feels overwhelming.
“Don’t be scared to challenge yourself,” she says. “You are able to do it.”
From art to algebra, from Entry 3 English to training future mathematicians, Leila’s story shows how determination, opportunity, and the right support can transform lives - one small step at a time.
