Romzan Ali said he was unsure about what the future would look like after both his parents passed away
A man who felt “lost and unsure about the future” after the sudden deaths of his parents said he has learnt setbacks “don’t define your future”. Romzan Ali has graduated with first class honours and now has his sights set on becoming an air traffic controller having secured a job working in security at Cardiff Airport.
The 22-year-old, from Ely, reflected: “This experience has taught me that setbacks don’t define your future. With persistence, support and hard work, it’s possible to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.”
In 2019, Romzan’s dad died suddenly and shortly after, his mum, who was living in Bangladesh, also died. It was this personal tragedy which brought his education to a halt while he was studying for his A-levels.
“Everything stopped,” Romzan said. “At the time, I felt lost and unsure about what the future would look like.”
Romzan then tried to return to studying but faced yet more setbacks with unsuccessful applications and limited course availability. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
However he was so committed to going to university Romzan self-funded an online Access programme with his own savings, enabling him to complete the equivalent of three A-levels within a year. It was this that he says was the real turning point.
Since then, Romzan developed a keen interest in the aviation industry and undertook a number of extra courses alongside his university course.
He completed additional modules with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is now leading a consultancy project focused on revenue development strategies for Cardiff Airport.
The 22-year-old has now graduated from an aviation management degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University, and said he knows completing the degree will have made his dad proud.
He reflected: “My dad always wanted me to do well in school and achieve a degree. Completing university means a lot to me because I know it would have made him proud.”
Romzan also praised the support of his sister and brother-in-law, Shahela and Mahmud. “They have been my biggest supporters from the beginning,” he said.
“They always believed in me, even during the hardest times. My tutors at Cardiff Met have also been incredibly supportive throughout my degree, helping me build confidence in myself and my abilities.”
Having now got a security job at Cardiff Airport, Romzan hopes to continue building on his love for the industry and wants to one day become an air traffic controller.
He said: “I’ve always been fascinated by aviation. The industry is constantly evolving and connecting people around the world. My goal is to build a career where I can continue learning and taking on responsibility.”
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