When surf school owner John, 47, challenged himself with a return to education, he had two clear goals – to study a captivating subject, while unlocking new career opportunities. John never imagined that his Open University (OU) degree would set him on course to become a Detective Constable in his home county.<\/p>\n
As a new chapter begins, John shares how his curiosity about the natural world led him to OU study and a career path he never dreamed was possible.<\/p>\n
After many years of teaching budding surfers how to ride waves and keep themselves safe in the ocean, John had a revelation. Despite his experience and expertise, he didn\u2019t fully understand the science behind his passion.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiving and teaching on the coast, the weather\u2019s all over the place and the landscape is so varied,\u201d John describes. \u201cSo as much as I know how to handle the environmental factors practically, I suddenly had this urge to learn how and why everything happens around us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Starting with podcasts and information he could find online, John couldn\u2019t get enough of what he was learning, wondering for the first time if he could manage to study a science subject at degree level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d always found science quite difficult at school, but I think it can be taught in quite a baffling way,\u201d says John. \u201cWhen I signed up to study Natural Sciences, I still didn\u2019t know if I had a degree in me, but the first module was about water, which was a perfect start! Now I finally, properly understand why it acts the way it does.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having been out of education for over 20 years, John surprised himself, achieving high marks and loving the way he was learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe online student portal is just brilliant, it\u2019s so easy to work with and the materials are presented in such a way that you get hooked and end up studying for longer than you planned to!\u201d<\/p>\n
John adds, \u201cI found the mix of materials really worked for me \u2013 books, online interactive content and videos \u2013 it\u2019s all simple to access and keeps you interested.\u201d<\/p>\n
Juggling part-time study with work felt daunting at first, until John looked at it in a different way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was enjoying my studies so much, it didn\u2019t take long for me to get it in perspective,\u201d says John. \u201cI just thought that six years would come and go whether or not I was doing a degree, so I thought about what I wanted my future to look like.\u201d<\/p>\n
With his partner taking over the day-to-day running of the surf school and with a first-class degree under his belt, it was time for John to look at his career prospects.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was firing off CV\u2019s and not getting much of a response, so I decided to check in with the OU\u2019s careers and employability service,\u201d John remembers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t fault it. You can get advice on your CV and the careers information available is vast. I completed a questionnaire online and one of the jobs it recommended for me was detective!\u201d<\/p>\n
After some digging, John discovered that thanks to OU study, he was eligible for Detective Degree Holder Entry<\/a>, which was open for applications to his local police force at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recruitment process was tough, but my OU degree was pivotal to my success,\u201d John says. \u201cOn a fundamental level, it\u2019s changed the way I think. I\u2019m now more critical and have the skills to evaluate whether something’s worth reading or listening to.\u201d<\/p>\n Now in the first stage of his training, John looks back on the journey that led him there.<\/p>\n \u201cMy time at the OU was so fulfilling on a personal level. And career wise, it’s opened doors that just weren’t there,\u201d John reflects. \u201cThe way the economy is at the moment, having an opportunity like this is transformative – I can’t imagine what I would be doing without it.\u201d<\/p>\n About to embark on more qualifications, this time in policing, John finds that he\u2019s now an advocate of life-long learning.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ll always suggest the OU to people I know if they\u2019re considering their future. I send them links to Open Learn<\/a> which is free for anyone to use and is a great way to get back into a learning mindset,\u201d says John.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then if you do want to go on to a degree course, it\u2019s modular, so you can dip your toe in without a huge commitment,\u201d John advises.<\/p>\n \u201cI went through a tough time during my degree \u2013 I was diagnosed with cancer and had lots of treatment and operations to cope with, but my studies gave me something positive to focus on with the flexibility I needed. I\u2019m so glad I kept going.\u201d<\/p>\n John adds, \u201cI would recommend OU study to anyone, it\u2019s the real deal!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’re thinking about a new career, or taking the next step in the sector you’re in, OU can help you get there. Search for your perfect course<\/a> today and find out where your OU journey can take you.<\/p>\nAdvice to others<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Inspired by John’s story?<\/h2>\n