OU study: A step to achieving your full potential…

Studying with The Open University gives students the opportunity to achieve their full potential, according to one graduate...

Margaret Sheldon began her OU journey in 1986, on a path, she says, that changed her life.

“Studying with the OU completely changed my life, giving me the confidence to achieve a successful career while bringing up three children alone.”

When she began her studies, Margaret was working as a qualified teacher, but she yearned for degree status. She looked at the various OU courses available, and because the Arts Foundation course was full she instead chose the course that interested her the most: Art in 15th Century Italy.

“This third level course was, as a fellow student pointed out, a quantum leap,” Margaret recalled, “but following several years of living in Tuscany I thrived with it.

“To my amazement, even before I had finished the course, my tutor offered me a scholarship to study on his MA History of Art & Design course in Birmingham, despite my having no degree status.”

At the same time, Margaret was also offered a year’s secondment from teaching to study for an education degree at Birmingham University, gaining a B.Phil (Ed).

She said: “I enjoyed studying with the Open University so I continued taking courses annually until with accreditation I gained my degree in 1990.”

Margaret may have retired from teaching in 1998, but she certainly didn’t retire from life! Instead, she took off for South Africa where for many years she was involved with development issues in townships and Zulu valleys, and later in Tanzania. She also volunteered for VSO assignments, training teachers in the Ukraine, China and Sri Lanka.

Then finally last year, Margaret enrolled on an art history course, Renaissance Art Reconsidered, in order to refresh and broaden her knowledge.

“This third level AA course was very challenging, even with my previous study experience, but I learned a lot and to my delight it has ended with me gaining a BA Honours degree 2.1.

“I have always felt proud to study with the Open University which offers anyone the chance to study but maintains some of the highest academic standards in the world.

“I thank the Open University for giving us all the chance to achieve our potential and fulfil interesting, worthwhile lives. Without it I wouldn’t have been able to go out into the world making a difference to the lives of those I helped as a volunteer.”

Margaret received her degree at a ceremony in Birmingham in May. She added: “I feel very privileged to receive my degree along with many other deserving graduates of all ages and diverse study goals.”