“The Open University played a huge part in my success and I want to share that,” says sports coach and Open University graduate Allana Francis-Ashmeil.
Known as ‘Coach Ace’ to her students, Allana launched her children’s coaching business while studying for her Sport, Fitness and Coaching degree. After struggling with dyslexia at school, she says the OU gave her the support and confidence to succeed. And she’s now eager to give back and inspire sports stars of the future.
“Education wasn’t plain sailing for me,” Allana explains. “I was diagnosed with dyslexia aged 15, which explained a lot about why I’d struggled at school up until then. I felt I had the stigma of being labelled ‘lazy’. My English GCSE teacher was dyslexic and recognised the signs in me which led to me being tested and diagnosed. That played a big part in building up my confidence and I learned more about what dyslexia was.”
“I found myself struggling again. The brick university was so big, and I was overwhelmed by the size of the campus. We would attend lectures in a lecture theatre with 900 to 1,000 students and I found it hard taking notes from a white board and too intimidating to ask questions when I didn’t understand.
“I failed my first year and went home and told my mum that university wasn’t for me and I wanted to drop out. Mum had seen an ad for The Open University and told me that with the OU you could work alongside your studies.”
Gaining the support to succeed
Allana began her Sport and Fitness Coaching degree in 2014 and chose to study full-time, graduating in 2016.
“When I began my OU course, I was a sessional sports coach for a coaching company, so I’d study in the morning and coach in the afternoon. I actually found my current job (teaching sport at a private school) through coaching there. Once I started the teaching job, I’d do my OU study in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays. I was lucky as my school were very supportive of my study.
“I initially found the written work hard – partly due to my dyslexia – but the OU tutors were so supportive and approachable. Even if I felt a bit self-conscious about asking during a lecture, I could drop them an email afterwards. I’d never had that before. Although I wasn’t physically seeing my tutors day-to-day, I felt that they knew me. You always get a response very quickly at the OU.”
Allana continued to lean on the support of her tutors and says this was especially needed when she suffered a family bereavement. After needing to attend a funeral overseas, Allana’s tutors ensured she had an extension, so she didn’t fall behind:
“I felt appreciated as a student and it helped me to know that if I was ever in trouble or in need, I’d be fine. I felt the OU understood that life happens.”
Beginning a career as a sports coach
‘Coach Ace’ Allana with some of her students
“What I really liked about my particular route of study was that I had to complete a Level 2 coaching course as part of my degree. I’m now a Level 2 cricket coach and Level 2 football coach and it inspired me to try to get more badges – I now have so many!”
It was during her degree that Allana set up “Project Ace”, a sports coaching business aimed at empowering young people to pursue sport. Allana and her teams offer a range of sports clubs and academies, as well as a Sports Ambassador programme for teenagers who have shown an interest in sports leadership.
“I always wanted to set up a business in sports to ‘give back’. Coaching for a time in the US and Canada gave me an insight as to how they do it over there and OU study made me feel I had the capability to do more. Parents come to us and say, ‘My daughter doesn’t really like football…’ Not all kids like the ‘generic’ sports – some like tennis or golf. I never want to cut off the opportunity to work with children and I’ve learned a lot from the other sport coaches.”
Allana continues to work at the school where she was promoted to Senior Sports Coach before being appointed Head of Diversity and Inclusion.
Advice for OU students
Now a proud OU graduate, Allana shares her top tips for fellow students:
- Know the type of studier you are
“Are you more of a visual learning person or do you like the social aspect? Do you prefer to go at your own pace? The OU gives you options – full or part time study, and you’ll have the support system of the OU along the way.”
- Focus on what works for you
“It’s easy to get drawn into what everyone else is doing. It might be the ‘norm’ to go to a brick university but that’s not for everyone, particularly if you have an unseen disability such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. Education should be available to people in different ways.”
“I’m really proud to say I’ve been an OU student,” says Allana. “Especially coming up to graduation time, seeing motivational quotes from graduating students makes me really proud.”
