A-Level smiles for aspiring local dentist Emma

Emma Thorndyke celebrates her A Level results at Abbey College

23-year-old aspiring dentist Emma Thorndyke from Rochdale is celebrating after receiving her outstanding A-Level results.

A student at the independent Manchester-based Abbey College, Emma achieved two A grades in Chemistry and Biology and is now looking forward to studying dentistry at the University of Leeds.

Talented Emma already has a First Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sheffield University under her belt, but decided on a change in direction after realising it wasn’t a career for her.

Emma said: “I almost went full-circle. I’d always wanted to do dentistry but was told my chemistry grades through school weren’t good enough. All of my original A-Levels pointed to a mechanical engineering course, so I studied that at university.

“After I’d graduated I realised engineering wasn’t a career I wanted to pursue, so when I found out I could do more A-Levels though a one-year programme I went for it.

“My decision to change career paths was something that I’m delighted I went ahead with. I’m so happy to have achieved these fantastic results and the support from everyone at Abbey College over the past year has been brilliant.

“I’m going away to Greece today with family to celebrate and get some sun.”

Emma is excited to start at the University of Leeds with her long-term plan of becoming a professional dentist. She said: “I haven’t spent much time in Leeds, but I’m sure over the five-year course I’ll get to know the city well.

“After my first year I’ll be partly placed in hospitals alongside studying; working on patients. I can’t wait.”