I let go of the dream of being in anything
sort of medicine related a long time ago because I didn't have A-levels,
I wanted to do childcare, but I found it wasn't really for me.
And then at 17, I fell pregnant with my first child.
Uni was always something
that I'd always thought about doing, but just never thought I'd be good enough.
I'd never get in really.
I just fumbled my way, up until I was
probably about thirty.
I'd been working in retail for nigh-on three years.
So I work in town, and I’ve always
put myself down. You can't do this.
I'm too stupid, I’m too
I'm too thick. And I pushed myself.
One day obviously noticed the course had come up on university and I thought, I’ll go have a look,
I forced myself to fill the form in and just hand in straight away,
and within a few weeks I got a reply to say that I'd got a place.
Literally from a school I did
call centre work. I went to work at
Willerby Holiday Homes. I was in customer care for two and a half years
and then marketing for two and a half years.
And I absolutely loved marketing. Uni was always something
that I'd always thought about doing, but because I didn't really think
I was clever enough to go, because I didn’t do great at school, I just never thought I'd be good enough
or I’d never get in really.
But yeah, my auntie’s actually a lecturer at uni
and she said have you heard of this course and that was the Uni Cert course
and yeah I got onto it and that was it really. I decided that I wanted to be a social worker.
As soon as I got on the university ground I felt that, you know,
this is for me.
When you are passionate about something,
and I did want it to take me to nursing, you do try your best.
Never in a million years did I think that I would be writing
the assignments,
given the presentations that I was able to give.
I had to come home,
I had to cook, I had to clean, I had to take care of the kids, do their homework.
But it just all seemed to slot into place.
After a couple of weeks, you start to find your rhythm
and all you have to do is ask for the help
and they'll find whatever way they can to do it for you.
The door opened really,
that was it, you know.
Without that Uni Cert course
I would never have been able to get into uni.
I know I can do this now.
I’ve just proved it.
I feel more confident in myself.
Yeah, I feel more mature.
I feel like I'm more, I know where I want to go.
I already hold an offer for September to go on to nursing.
I am heading more toward stem cell research, or oncology,
I’ve got a conditional place for Adult Nursing now.
I think I want to go into child safeguarding, but I might end up
working with vulnerable adults and I might really enjoy that
Brilliant experience. Loved it.
Just go for it.
Time goes by so quick, so you might as well do it while you can you know.
That’s my advice.
Go for it.
Just be prepared for work.