Xhuliana Cani

Xhuliana’s return to education after 12 years

After stepping away from education to raise her family, Xhuliana Cani made the decision to return to Leicester College 12 years later to gain the qualifications she needed to move forward.

Having completed Entry Level 1 and 2 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses at Leicester College in 2014, Xhuliana recently returned to study GCSE Maths in 2024 and GCSE English in 2025, proving that it's never too late to invest in yourself and your future.

Returning to education

Originally from Albania, Xhuliana left school as a teenager before moving to the UK. After starting a family and becoming a mother to three children, she decided that the time had come to focus on her own ambitions.

"I wanted to do something for myself. As a teenager, I dropped out of school in my country, Albania, and when I came to Leicester in 2013, I studied ESOL at Leicester College. Then I created a family and put my education on hold.

"After 12 years, I decided to come back. Being a mother of three is difficult, especially when one of your children has additional needs, but I knew I wanted to achieve something for myself."

Although she is still considering her future options, Xhuliana is interested in becoming a teaching assistant, studying IT or pursuing a role that allows her to advocate for others.

"Without GCSEs, you can't do much, so I thought I'd start there and see where it takes me."

Choosing Leicester College

For Xhuliana, returning to Leicester College was an easy decision.

"The College has given me so many opportunities, choices and chances over the years.  The teachers are helpful and the resources available to students are amazing. Even after 12 years, I knew Leicester College was the place for me."

The flexibility of online learning was particularly important, allowing Xhuliana to balance her studies with family life and caring responsibilities.

"The online classes really suited my lifestyle. Having a child with additional needs comes with its own responsibilities, so being able to study from home made a huge difference. I attended classes online every Thursday morning and only came into college for assessments and exams."

When searching for GCSE courses, Xhuliana found everything she needed on the Leicester College website.

"It was very clear and easy to find the information I needed. I didn't need to look anywhere else."

Discovering a love for the language

One of the highlights of the course for Xhuliana was exploring the English language in greater depth.

"Learning about English on a deeper level was fascinating for me. As someone whose first language isn't English, it was amazing to learn new techniques and understand how language is used in different ways."

Xhuliana also praised the course structure, which combined theory with practical and creative elements.

"The teachers did a really good job balancing creative writing with theory and practical work, which made the lessons engaging and enjoyable."

Support available every step of the way

"The support was absolutely fantastic. The staff would notice even the slightest change if something wasn't right, and they always helped direct us to the support we needed."

She also found inspiration in studying alongside people from a wide range of backgrounds and ages.

"Last year, there were students in their sixties in my class and I found that fascinating. It proves my point that no matter how old you are, you can always return to education. It's incredibly inspiring."

Looking ahead

As she awaits her GCSE English results, Xhuliana is considering several different career paths, including becoming a teaching assistant or working in advocacy.

"I like to talk, I like to defend people and I hate injustice. Whatever I do next, I want it to involve helping others."

For anyone considering returning to education, Xhuliana has one simple message:

"It's never too late. Life can throw so many things at you, but it's never too late to go back and study. We often think we have too much on our plates and don't have enough time, but if you really want to do something for yourself, you can make it happen.

"Studying is the best therapy you can find."