Mel Lavisto
Mel Lavisto gained her BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care and Education degree from Portobello Institute entirely online and travelled 29 hours from Australia to attend her graduation ceremony in Dublin.
Mel is a mother of two who works full-time, and she embarked on her educational journey to pursue her dream of working with children.
This is something she is extremely proud of, which was made possible through hard work and Portobello Institute’s online blended learning course delivery. She is now able to pursue her dream career of working with children.
Her inspiring success of completing her degree from the other side of the world demonstrates how one-to-one support and determination allows Portobello Institute students to achieve their goals regardless of their circumstances.
Mel amazingly travelled over 29 hours from Australia to attend her graduation ceremony in Dublin, highlighting how much this achievement meant to her.
“Studying at Portobello Institute is such an honour, especially with being a mom myself. Having two children, Portobello Institute has actually helped me achieve my dream of working with children.
“Other colleges don’t have that flexibility, Portobello Institute allowed me to accomplish what I wanted. I am so honoured and grateful that Portobello Institute has that opportunity for not just a parent, but everyone who is working full-time, so that they can also achieve their dreams,” she said.
Our blended learning approach allows our early childhood care and education students to gain their qualifications entirely remotely, online through distance learning with one-to-one support.
This delivery mode provided Mel with the flexibility she needed to balance her studies with her demanding schedule – on the other side of the world.
The BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care and Education programme, awarded by the University of Essex, is structured to accommodate working professionals, with classes held on designated Saturdays. This format allowed Mel to continue her full-time job while pursuing her education.
Mel was particularly impressed by the support she received from Portobello Institute’s lecturers who guided and supported her through her studies.
Speaking at her graduation day in November 2024, Mel reflected on her experience.
“Mix of emotions – jetlagged! I arrived just last night from a 29-hour trip from Australia. I am still on cloud nine at the moment. I am just thinking how did I do it? It’s like a superpower for a mom to be able to do my study, accomplish it and finish it while raising my children at the same time. I am working full time and studying and here I am now finishing it! Imagine also finishing it with the time difference in Australia too.
“I finished it I can’t believe how I managed all of that. Because I was dedicated, and this is because Portobello Institute has a way to provide the opportunity for an individual like me with the circumstances I have as a parent and a full-time worker,” she said.
Mel’s journey is a testament to her dedication and resilience. She successfully navigated the challenges of parenthood, a full-time job, and long-distance learning to achieve her academic goals and she’s not done yet.
“I’d like to pursue my BA (Hons) Early Childhood Care and Education level 8 hopefully. No matter where you are in the world, with Portobello Institute you can achieve your goals. The mentors are superstars! Not pushing or forcing us, just making it a lot easier for us students,” she said.
If you are interested in studying Early Years at Portobello Institute, visit our faculty here.
