Masters student Audrey, 29, had a thirst for learning from a young age, but always felt stifled by the education system. Audrey recounts how studying with The Open University (OU) inspired her to pursue a career in education and support young people to find their confidence and self-belief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t think I was fit for university. I always struggled with the rigid framework of school, even art college. It feels like if you don\u2019t fit the mould, you can get left behind and never discover what you\u2019re truly good at,\u201d Audrey says. \u201cMy mum studied at the OU many years ago and had been drip-feeding the idea for a while. So, I finally took the plunge and signed up for a BA in Arts and Humanities<\/a> and I can honestly say it was the best learning experience of my life!\u201d<\/p>\n Having the ability to study when and where she wanted was a revelation for Audrey. \u201cI\u2019ve tried a campus environment and I remember just feeling frustrated at the time I was wasting. With the OU, you\u2019re always doing something meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Audrey prefers to study alone, access to support was extremely important to her. \u201cI\u2019m originally from Belgium and not a native English speaker, which made me doubt myself in the beginning,\u201d she remembers, \u201cbut the tutors were always there for me. The feedback they gave was amazing – always giving me something to work on and showing me that I was making progress.\u201d<\/p>\n Flexibility and support were a winning combination for Audrey, who achieved a first-class degree in 2020. \u201cI felt an immense sense of pride and genuinely part of a huge community,\u201d she said, \u201cand the best thing is that I could live my life at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n During her studies, Audrey attended an inaugural lecture from an OU tutor, which helped determine her career path. Titled \u2018Why school is bad for us \u2013 lessons we need to learn\u2019<\/a>, Audrey connected with the concept straight away.<\/p>\n \u201cI came out of that lecture knowing that I wanted a career in education. It completely resonated with me, and I recognised that I could make a difference to kids who feel like I did at school.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking back to the time she realised what she wanted to do with her life, Audrey remembers feeling bewildered. \u201cIt was one thing realising that I wanted a career in education, but I didn\u2019t know how to get there,\u201d she says. That\u2019s when Audrey contacted the OU\u2019s Careers and Employability Services.<\/p>\n \u201cThe careers consultants were brilliant. I went back to them many times and they were always so helpful.\u201d Audrey added, \u201cIt was reassuring to know that someone was there to go through all my options.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the recommendations Audrey received from the Careers and Employability Services, was to volunteer with Barnardo\u2019s to gain experience of working with young people. \u201cThat was such great advice. It really helped me when it came to applying for teaching jobs, and I loved it so much, I\u2019m still volunteering to this day.\u201d<\/p>\nSupported to study her way<\/strong><\/h2>\n
That lightbulb moment<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Planning her next steps<\/strong><\/h2>\n