With a young family and elderly parents, Miriam, 56, faced some challenges during her studies, but the flexible approach of The Open University (OU) meant that she could step away from her degree and return when ready. Miriam from County Louth in Ireland recently celebrated completing her BSc Open Degree and praises the OU for a boost in confidence and a new identity.
After leaving school, Miriam always wanted to pursue a degree, but it wasn’t until she had a young family that she decided to make her dream a reality.
“Although I completed my secondary schooling, I always regretted that I’d never had the opportunity to do a degree,” she says.
“By the time I plucked up the courage to take the plunge, I had a young family, so the flexibility aspect of studying with the OU was appealing, as was the open entry policy.
“I enjoyed science at school and had a passion for health and nutrition-related topics, so this inspired my module choices.
“I found that the progression through study was rewarding. I strived to achieve my goals by continuing to complete each module or exam component, and as my studies progressed, I realised that a career in a health-related field was where I wanted to end up.”
Finding support through challenges
Whilst she was on her study journey, Miriam’s parents became unwell and required full-time care. With the support of the OU, Miriam was able to take a break from her studies, which helped to ease the pressure.
“During my studies, my father had a stroke and he needed full-time care for eight years and my mother’s health also failed. I had to take some breaks for this reason as I could not manage, and it was very hard emotionally.
“It was always my hope to finish the degree, but I certainly had doubts because of these life events. I didn’t want to give up and was determined to have a qualification to enter back into the work-force.”
When Miriam was ready to begin her studies again, the OU provided her with the resources she needed to pick up where she’d left of.
“My tutors were always there to support me, they would respond quickly to queries, be sympathetic to any problems and give good, useful feedback on assignments, while offering advice on how to progress in my studies.
“I also discovered the student forums, and these were helpful as I could discuss any difficulties and struggles with my fellow students.
“Life gets in the way sometimes, but I’m so glad I didn’t give up. The best element of study has always been the satisfaction of completing a module and persisting with moving forward. It’s been very rewarding.”
Achieving her goals
Last year, Miriam completed her degree and attended the degree ceremony in Belfast.
“It was a huge relief to finally complete my degree. It has made me a different person and has given me a fresh perspective on life.
“The knowledge I gained in my studies has increased my confidence and given me a new identity. OU study also taught me self-discipline, which has filtered through to my normal day-to-day routines.
“My BSc Open Degree has allowed me to re-enter the workforce in a health-related job, which has been amazing.”
Advice for others
As a graduate of the OU, Miriam has advice for students that may be struggling with their studies.
“Never give up and don’t let anybody deter you from your path.
“I found it useful to reflect at certain points on how far I had come, for example, once I’d reached certificate level, it gave me the boost to go a bit further. I always had the end in view but took the journey in stages.
“The OU provides an excellent structure and timeframe to facilitate long-term study. I would also say to engage with your tutor as much as possible and other students via the forums.
“The OU offers anybody a wonderful chance to study at any time in life.”
Remember that there’s always someone in your corner when studying at the OU. Speak to your tutor or get in touch with the OU’s student support team. They’ll be able to listen and talk you through all your options.
