When Destanhy, 23, fell pregnant during sixth form, her university plans were turned upside down. Determined to forge ahead with higher education, Destanhy embarked on her first Social Sciences module with The Open University (OU) when her baby was only a few weeks old.
Destanhy shares how OU study sparked a love for psychology and an exciting new career path.
Bringing university to you
With a very young baby to care for, Destanhy found savvy ways to fit her studies around being a new mum.
“I planned my work in small chunks so that I could crack on whenever my son was sleeping and make regular progress,” Destanhy explains. “OU study gave me a sense of purpose and kept my brain active.”
“Having the flexibility to work to my own schedule made all the difference. There’s no way I could have started a degree with a newborn if I’d been tied to lecture times or had to travel to another location. With the OU, you can study when you’re ready and able.”
Choosing social sciences for pure interest, Destanhy had no idea where her degree would take her, until she was introduced to psychology.
“I found the subject so interesting – it helps make sense of the world and what’s going on around you,” says Destanhy. “The course content is really up to date and relevant, I liked it so much, I chose to specialise in psychology.”
Support when you need it
Unsure what to expect from distance learning, Destanhy initially felt apprehensive about feeling out of her depth.
“I was so happy to find out there was an actual human to talk to – the tutors throughout my course were always lovely,” Destanhy remembers. “I also loved the combination of books, videos and tutorials to break up the learning. It made the workload less daunting, and actually fun.”
Discovering there was a whole community to lean on gave Destanhy a boost when things felt tough.
“So much can happen in the time it takes to get your degree. Sometimes there’s a lot going on and you have less capacity to cope with everything,” says Destanhy. “I found student forums really useful – hearing how others approached certain challenges and knowing that I wasn’t the only one struggling spurred me on.”
Reaching the finish line
During Destanhy’s six years of part-time study, she barely dared to think of graduation. Instead, she focused on one deadline at a time and regularly took a moment to remember what motivated her to embark on a degree course in the first place.
“I kept thinking about my son and how I wanted to achieve something for him, especially faced with the stigma that can exist for young mums,” Destanhy reflects. “There were times when I was exhausted because my son wasn’t sleeping or poorly, but I just told myself I couldn’t let it slip, I’d come too far!”
Finally, Destanhy’s hard work and dedication paid off and she grabbed the opportunity to celebrate with both hands.
“My mum was so proud when she came to my degree ceremony and even though he was just 5 years old, my son knew I’d done something amazing. It was really special,” says Destanhy.
Now a proud OU graduate, Destanhy is looking ahead to her newfound career goal.
“Even though I had a different path in mind before I fell pregnant, I was forced down another route, but I couldn’t be happier,” said Destanhy. “I want to become a child psychologist in a primary school setting, so I need to get my Masters. I’m already looking into it!”
Advice to others
Keen to inspire others to reach their potential, Destanhy shares why she thinks OU study is so accessible.
“I was nervous before I started, but I didn’t need to be, you’re guided one step at a time. Your first couple of modules ease you into it, helping you to understand how to work at degree standard,” she describes.
“Studying with the OU develops skills that help you in every area of your life – communication, self-discipline, organisation – it even made me a better manager in my retail job.”
Destanhy adds, “I would say to anyone considering signing up – just go for it! OU study opens so many doors and you’ll be surprised what you can achieve.”
