{"id":20256,"date":"2022-01-28T16:44:41","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T16:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=20256"},"modified":"2022-01-28T16:44:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T16:44:41","slug":"i-wont-let-dyslexia-stop-me-the-degree-apprentice-building-a-new-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/student-stories\/i-wont-let-dyslexia-stop-me-the-degree-apprentice-building-a-new-career\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I won\u2019t let dyslexia stop me\u2019 \u2013 the degree apprentice building a new career"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Martyn Carroll left school at 16, he didn\u2019t realise he had dyslexia and simply thought higher education wasn\u2019t for him. He\u2019s now proving just what he\u2019s capable of thanks to a degree apprenticeship with The Open University and South Western Railway.<\/p>\n

It means he can finally achieve his degree dream \u2013 and apply his learning right away, without taking a career break.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I left school at 16, there was no such thing as dyslexia, or it certainly wasn\u2019t thought about,\u201d explains Martyn. \u201cI was considered \u2018non-conforming\u2019 and not interested in the subject matter. I joined the Army at 16 and was there for over 23 years, from 1985 to 2009.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Martyn always struggled with reading and writing, he was determined not to let this hold him back. He started reading novels while serving overseas and would turn to poetry and crossword puzzles to help with his literacy.<\/p>\n

Overcoming barriers<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Degree

Martyn is balancing his studies with his career at South Western Railway<\/p><\/div>\n

All through his Army career, Martyn continued to push himself with regular courses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I didn\u2019t get any formal qualifications when I left the Army, I did a lot of courses and got a lot of confidence,\u201d says Martyn. \u201cUnless I told somebody I was dyslexic, it wasn\u2019t immediately apparent. But I had to work on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Martyn left the services, he began working in project management, before taking on a new opportunity at South Western Railway. When he realised he could study for a degree apprenticeship through his workplace, he jumped at the opportunity.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy line manager mentioned the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship to me,\u201d says Martyn. \u201cI have a natural tendency to look for courses to improve and with the dyslexia I can\u2019t just sit back and do nothing. Otherwise, I can feel myself regressing, so I have to keep moving forward and keep improving.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing in new to the railway industry, I knew the apprenticeship would give me a really good foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n

A new opportunity as a degree apprentice<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Through the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, Martyn can develop his skills through a mix of academic and practical learning. He\u2019s also able to go back and complete the Maths and English qualifications required as part of the apprenticeship, as he missed out on these at school.<\/p>\n

One big benefit for learning in this way for both Martyn and his employer, is that all the skills he\u2019s learning can be applied right away.<\/p>\n

\u201cSupport from my line manager has been very good, very positive and very proactive,\u201d says Martyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel that South Western Railway have been fully committed to helping me get this. They want me to do well. And the OU equally are always there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As well as gaining support from his tutors, Martyn is part of an online group of students who regularly share advice on dealing with dyslexia. With the support of his wife too, Martyn has numerous people cheering him on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve now finished module one, which was initially a bit daunting,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s an awful lot of commitment and work. But I\u2019ve steadily got better with my assessments. The feedback from the tutor each time has been robust, but helpful. It\u2019s taught me what I need to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moving forward with confidence<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Looking ahead, Martyn feels his degree apprenticeship will help him to keep moving forward \u2013 personally and professionally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough the years I\u2019ve understood that dyslexia is not indicative of a level of intelligence,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m quite ambitious and I think most military veterans are ambitious by nature. You\u2019re always looking for that next move forward. Doing this apprenticeship is feeding into that ambition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s lighting that fire inside again. When I finish the degree apprenticeship, I can potentially look for bigger and better jobs within South Western Railway.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Looking ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cTo do this at my age, having come back from the Middle East to go into a new job, it\u2019s been quite tough,\u201d admits Martyn.<\/p>\n

Yet no matter the barriers Martyn has faced along the way, he knows all of his hard work will be worth it:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo do this learning and get to the end of the apprenticeship and stand up there at a degree ceremony with all the togs on and get the degree will be an amazing thing. It\u2019s something to really look forward to and a real motivator.\u201d<\/p>\n

LEARN MORE<\/strong><\/p>\n