“Everybody takes a different path in life. You just have to find what’s right for you.” That’s the advice from 23-year-old Katelyn Owens who, after transferring to numerous universities and battling a substance use disorder has regained confidence and taken back control over her life.
BA (Hons) Criminology & Sociology student Katelyn, now living in Switzerland, shares that life before enrolling at The Open University was ‘a rollercoaster’.
“I was a third culture kid, which means I grew up away from my home country. This led to some identity issues and within the first four years of my university experience, I attended three different brick universities, in three different countries.
“I started coping in unhealthy ways which saw me developing a substance use disorder,” she shares.
A welcome support
Katelyn knew she had to ‘get out of the current environment, get treatment and do some soul searching in order to recover’ but she wasn’t prepared to give up her dreams of graduating.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to. “I was already familiar with the OU as my stepmother had gained her degree while working,” explains Katelyn. “I thought studying online could be a good fit for me because that would allow me to move home, get increased family support and effectively work on myself, my mental health and my recovery.”
Being able to transfer the equivalent of one year’s credits towards her studies was also a huge bonus in Katelyn continuing as it meant she started straight into Year 2 of the course.
Putting learnings into practise
Katelyn admits that, at first, not everyone understood her decision to study flexibly with the OU. She now wants to help break any misconceptions of distance learning and encourage younger students to explore all options when applying to university.
“There’s a misconception that there’s one traditional university path you have to follow. I wondered whether I’d be viewed differently by not graduating with a brick university, but I haven’t experienced that in the slightest. In fact, the assignments are a lot more applicable to what I want to do in my future career.
“For example, I’ve been able to write practice policy reports and blog posts. The support has been second-to-none and feedback I’ve received from tutors has been invaluable.”
She continues, “I’ve learned key skills like self-motivation, time management and to take responsibility for my own success. All these things have instilled such a confidence in me that I once lost.”
Katelyn adds that one of her favourite things about the OU is having the chance to do internships alongside studying, “I’ve been able to apply what I’m learning in my modules into the real world. This this boosts my employability, but it’s also a very practical way to learn even more.”
A life-changing decision
Reflecting on the past few years, Katelyn opens up about her personal struggles: “To put it simply, I may not be in recovery if I didn’t enrol in The Open University. I’ve been able to focus on myself, which is what I needed.
“I think it’s made me more of an open-minded and accepting person. The OU really is open to everyone. It’s a diverse and accessible platform for students all over the world, regardless of their background.”
So, what’s next for Katelyn Owens? Well, the sky’s the limit. She’s already landed her ‘dream spot’ at a brick university studying a MSc in Criminal Justice Policy with the hope to work for a non-profit organisation one day.
“Without the opportunity to take things at my own pace and focus on my wellbeing, I would not be where I am today. Thank you to The Open University for saving my life.”
