TWO Coleg Cambria students with extraordinary stories will be following their dreams this September with their A-Level results.

Faith Dodd, who is battling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Amber-Leigh Walker, who is following her dreams after the tragic death of he father, will both be heading to university this September.

Faith will begin a degree in Classical Archaeology and Classical Civilisation at University College London (UCL) from September.

READ MORE: LIVE: Students across North Wales get their A-Level results today

The 19-year-old, from Wrexham, completed qualifications in Drama, Media, Classic Civilisation and Biology at Coleg Cambria Yale.

She was also named BBC Wales Young Reporter of the Year in 2021 after she and dad Matthew captured her OCD journey on film, with the resulting video watched more than 120,000 times on the organisation’s Facebook page.

Faith looks forward to representing the city in the upcoming Miss Teen GB competition, with her place sponsored by the college.

Looking ahead to the next chapter in her life after a rollercoaster 12 months, the former Ysgol y Grango pupil said: “I’m very excited – and scared – to be accepted to such a prestigious institution in London and grateful for the opportunity.

“UCL is my dream university so despite receiving offers from other places in the UK there was only one place I was ever going to go.”

She added: “I did a summer school with the Sutton Trust and Cambridge University last summer which really helped me narrow down archaeology as the right path for me, and then in the September I spent a week volunteering at the Roman Rossett dig with Wrexham Museum and Chester University.

“I'm not sure where the subject will take me but I'm happy to work in anything to do with heritage, conservation, academia, or fieldwork. I guess I'll see what happens, I just can’t wait to get started.”

READ MORE: A-Level results Ysgol Morgan Llwyd 

Reflecting on the BBC prize, Faith was thrilled to take the prestigious title and happy to be able to share her story with so many people, having had undiagnosed OCD for at least five years previously.

Thanking staff and students at Cambria for their support, she credited her dad, mum Donna-Marie and sister Evie as being a source of constant encouragement and positivity.

“I’ll definitely keep writing and sharing my story, especially for the many young people across the country who may be going through the same thing – it does help to know others are there for you and are able to help.”

You can watch Faith’s OCD journey here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56428411

Amber-Leigh Walker, from Old Colwyn, will attend the new Harper and Keele Veterinary School from September having achieved a Distinction* in Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi, near Ruthin.

“I am so happy and excited to be going to Harper and Keele,” said the former Ysgol Bryn Elian pupil, who lives in Old Colwyn with mum Kim and family.

“When my dad passed away aged just 42, I was unsure what the future would bring, but I was determined and am so glad I’ve made it.

READ MORE: A-Level results Hawarden High School

“I’ve been through a lot these past few years, but I was never going to give up, I can’t imagine not going on to be a vet and making him proud.”

Growing up in a household full of pets gave Amber-Leigh a head-start in caring for creatures of all shapes and sizes, from dogs and cats to guinea pigs, hamsters, and rodents.

“I knew from a very young age I wanted to work with animals,” she said.

“When I was little and started to understand they needed to go to the ‘doctors’ I became determined that’s what I would do one day, I wanted to help them if they were sick or injured.

“To now be attending a leading veterinary school and on course to do what I love as a career is amazing, it’s a dream come true.”