Pearl Burgess is glowing with pride.
During the past three years she has achieved two job promotions. Her new role, as a Neighbourhood Development Worker with NHS Bolton, will see her taking on considerable challenges.
And she believes it is the skills and confidence she gained on her Health and Social Care foundation degree course at the University of Bolton that have equipped her for interview success.
Pearl, 49, from Kearsley, was a school nurse support when she joined the Assistant Practitioners programme, run by NHS North West, five years ago.
Said Pearl: 'I'd been in the school nurse team for 15 years. I could do the job and I was good at it, but I knew if I wanted more I had to get more qualifications.'
The two-year part-time course was tough going, Pearl admits, and the demands of juggling full-time work and study were testing. 'For many of us we had events going on in our lives which were an added pressure to the study and the job, but we coped and we got through.
'I just thought "I am not going to give up, I am going to do this" and I did. Achieving that gave me tremendous confidence and what I learned gave me a lot of skills to take me forward.
'Even at the interview I had to do a PowerPoint presentation which I would never have attempted without having been familiar with putting them together as part of the course.'
Pearl graduated in 2006. After 17 years working as a school nurse support, Pearl applied for and achieved a new role - at a band five, which was a higher level and a bigger salary - as a public health childhood surveillance team leader.
Three years later and she's done it again. She's just been appointed as a Neighbourhood Development Worker. Again higher salary, higher grade - band six.
Said Pearl: 'I've had lots of congratulatory emails from people saying "well done, but how did you do that?" I got it because I applied for it and I had the confidence to do the interview.'
In December Pearl began her new role. She keeps a part-time role as a childhood surveillance team leader in public health, but for three days a week she takes on her new role.
This is not just a new role for Pearl, it is a new post. Pearl will be the first person to take on the job, which will be to work with her assigned communities to discover why they do not access health services and what can be done to make health services more appropriate and easier to access.
But she's not daunted, she's raring to get out and work with her assigned community.
'I'd just like to thank all my tutors at the University and thank them for encouraging me and giving me the opportunity to do the course, which I enjoyed immensely. It has given me a whole new lease on life.'
Pearl's tutors at the University are also thrilled with her progress.
Said Joanne Smith Programme Leader Foundation Degree Health and Social Care: 'It is pleasing to see how much success Pearl has had in her career, such achievements are down to her hard work and commitment. I am sure Pearl's experience will give inspiration to other students and those thinking of study. Showing what is possible through education. It is also good to know that Pearl's role will make a difference in the local community.'