In 2015, he secured a spot on the televised shows of BBC’s MasterChef. To help prepare for the live show, he took unpaid leave to work in the Michelin star restaurant run by the famous chef, Marco Pierre White, in London’s Piccadilly Circus.
“I didn’t win. My desserts let me down,” he said pragmatically. “But it was an incredible experience and I learnt so much.”
Following his exit from the show, Adrian returned to Romania and while there, experienced something of an epiphany.
“My mother was ill and while I was looking after her, I realised how fulfilling and rewarding it is to care for others.
“By then, I has been working as a chef for about ten years and, despite the amazing experience of MasterChef, I was becoming disillusioned.
“A kitchen can be a very stressful work environment and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable in the workplace.
“By the time I arrived back in Ireland after my visit home, I had come to a decision. I was going to switch to a career that involved caring for others.”
To get experience, he worked, sometimes on a voluntary basis, in a variety of different care settings including nursing homes, domiciliary care settings and hospitals.
Adrian says that caring can be challenging, it is also very rewarding.
“I like to give anyone I’m caring for the same kind of care that I would give my own mother. I feel it is a privilege to be able to care for other people.”
With work experience secured, Adrian decided to check out his options for getting an accredited qualification and his first port of call Northern Regional College in Newtownabbey.
“I went to the College’s Open Day and met with Jacqui McAllister and Siobhan McEldowney, two of the Health and Social Care lecturers. They were so helpful and encouraging. They outlined the different options for people working in Adult Care and discussed what would be the best one for me.”
For the past two years, Adrian juggled working as a nursing assistant in the Royal Victoria Hospital with studying part-time at the College’s Newtownabbey campus complete the Level 4 Adult Care Diploma, all part of his long-term plan to secure permanent employment in the health and social care sector.
“My wife, Amanda, and her family have been and always is a massive support to me in my career in healthcare. I am looking forward to the future and what is yet to come,” he said.
Now that he has completed his Diploma in Adult Care, Adrian is going to take a short break from studying before starting his nursing degree.
Jacqui McAllister, Curriculum Area Manager for Health and Social Care said she was delighted to have Adrian on the Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care.
“Adrian is totally committed to a career in health and social care and we wish him every success on the next stage of this journey. He shows great tenacity and leadership skills and was always generous in his support of other students. He really was an outstanding student.”