{"id":26536,"date":"2025-01-02T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/?p=26536"},"modified":"2025-04-15T13:52:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T12:52:54","slug":"im-really-proud-of-what-ive-achieved-even-against-the-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/student-stories\/im-really-proud-of-what-ive-achieved-even-against-the-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m really proud of what I\u2019ve achieved, even against the odds\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

George, 28, from Brighton, has just graduated with a BSc (Honours) Computing & IT<\/a> from The Open University (OU). Since completing his degree, his career has gone from strength-to-strength thanks to his studies, with promotions and even a nomination for Business Analyst of the Year 2024.<\/p>\n

However, George\u2019s study journey hasn\u2019t been without its challenges. In 2020, mid-way through his degree, he was paralysed from the waist down from Cauda Equina Syndrome. George was able to pause his studies and begin again when ready, giving him the flexibility he\u2019s needed when faced with the unexpected.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did in my opinion, good enough at school, but I just wasn\u2019t very engaged,\u201d said George.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t until I started a B-Tech alongside my A Levels that I began to enjoy learning. I loved being able to study in my own time and apply myself to a subject that really interested me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt disenfranchised with school and would have left at ten if I could, but the B-Tech bought a spark back and made me realise that I actually just needed a change from the type of learning, which is where my journey with the OU began.\u201d<\/p>\n

Planning ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

George knew he wanted to gain skills that would help his career progression.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to pursue a job in an industry with security and longevity. I applied for a few vacancies and landed a role in IT support at AXA, but again I had my future in mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone I knew that was currently studying at a brick university seemed unsure about their career path and what lay ahead of them after graduating. Some didn\u2019t even know whether they\u2019d be able to secure work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is when I found the OU. In just six years, I\u2019d be able to gain a degree and on-the-job experience that would pay for my qualification.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my mind, this would give me an edge that other twenty-somethings who had followed the traditional route wouldn\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Life-changing event<\/strong><\/h2>\n

George was progressing well with his studies when he was struck with a debilitating illness. The OU\u2019s student support team was by his side every step of the journey and helped him navigate the tricky times.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was midway through my dissertation module when one morning, I suddenly found that I couldn\u2019t move from the waist down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome, which is a rare but serious condition that happens when the nerves at the bottom of your spine are compressed or damaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy doctor told me that I needed to act like I\u2019d had major spinal surgery and basically not move for the next six to 12 weeks to allow my body to recover.<\/p>\n

\u201cI attempted to carry on with my module, but the recovery was too difficult and took all my energy. I spoke to the student support team, who were incredibly helpful and supportive. They talked me through the process and made me feel confident that pausing my studies wouldn\u2019t affect my goal of achieving my degree.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a year, when I was feeling well enough to start studying again, I was given the guidance I needed to pick up where I had left off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advice for others<\/strong><\/h2>\n

George has now completed his degree and used his qualifications to land a new role and even pick up an award nomination.<\/p>\n

\"Photo

George with his fellow Business Analyst of the Year nominees and professional rugby player, Maggie Alphonso<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cShortly after I completed my degree, I secured a more senior role and have since been promoted after just a year. I was also recently shortlisted for Business Analyst of the Year. My career has been propelled forward with my new qualification.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of what I\u2019ve achieved, even against the odds with my Cauda Equina Syndrome.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re like me and school wasn\u2019t the right fit, then perhaps the flexibility of the OU could be the perfect remedy. Whether you want to study at a full-time capacity or pace your studies so that you can work at the same time, the OU gives you plenty of options.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe opportunities are there for you to grab. I\u2019ve enjoyed my studies that much, that I\u2019m even considering an MBA with the OU!\u201d<\/p>\n

Boost your career prospects with an OU qualification. Discover the perfect course<\/a> for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

George, 28, from Brighton, has just graduated with a BSc (Honours) Computing & IT from The Open University (OU). Since completing his degree, his career has gone from strength-to-strength thanks to his studies, with promotions and even a nomination for Business Analyst of the Year 2024. However, George\u2019s study journey hasn\u2019t been without its challenges. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":26537,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,18],"tags":[1525,1640],"class_list":["post-26536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-computing-communications","category-student-stories","tag-news-home","tag-ou-home"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26536"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27105,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26536\/revisions\/27105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}