Having no qualifications, no company wanted to employ me. They all looked at me and my CV and sent me on my merry way, saying that I needed more than “life knowledge”. ‘Time for something drastic!’, I thought.
I came home from a job interview one day and started looking on the internet at job websites and saw an Aimhigher link, I clicked on it and a whole new world appeared before my eyes! I contacted them, as I was unsure if I could return to education but they convinced me that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, and they were right!
I arranged an interview with Bicton College to start a Foundation degree in Animal Science (Management and Welfare). I fell in love with the place as soon as I walked up the drive and thought to myself, ‘This is the place that I want to study.’ The interview went well and I started the course a month later.
As I am the only person in my family to go to university, at the grand old age of 37 I found it quite strange returning to education. Learning again is hard for me, but the tutors teach at my speed, so I am not losing out, if I don’t understand anything they will explain it until I do.
I am now about to start my second year exams, and in September join the University of Plymouth for my third year to top up to an Honours degree, and if all goes to plan, in a couple of years I hope to work with orangutans or primates in Borneo.
