Exhibition: The Open Programme

MARTYN STANLEY

‘I wasn’t ‘degree material’ at school. I was actually discouraged from doing A’ levels, and I can appreciate why,’ says Martyn, ‘I never really knew what I wanted to do and tended to complete any schoolwork by doing the bare minimum to avoid getting in trouble. Fast forward to 2010, I wasn’t happy in my career and needed to update my skills.’

After an unsuccessful job interview, Martyn decided to return to education to become more attractive to employers. He enrolled with the OU in 2010 and began studying for an Open degree, where he could choose the module subjects he was most interested in.

Whilst studying, Martyn rediscovered a love for writing, ‘I used to write humorous stories at high school. I began writing novels and self-published my first in 2012. I soon realised this was something I wanted to do seriously, so in 2013 I studied Creative Writing (A215) and it was a fantastic course.’

When Martyn realised he was on the road to achieving his degree, he was still surprised that he had made it so far. He was in for another surprise as he moved onto the third year of his course and began Advanced Creative Writing (A363) – a module which would change everything.  ‘I honestly think I wrote some of my best work during this course. I must have done because I somehow managed to wrangle a distinction out of it! This changed things.’ Martyn was now on track for a first-class degree and as he took his final module, he was desperate to get the best mark possible.

‘Against my every expectation, I actually managed to secure a distinction for that course too! I didn't just sneak a First-Class Honours but sailed over the line. I'm the first person in my family I know of to get a bachelor’s degree. I never thought I could do it.’

‘It took me nine years of slog, but I came out of it as a person with higher aspirations who believed in himself. Now, I plan to have a break, then perhaps do a Masters in Creative Writing. I started when I was 33 and finished at 42. Studying has been a part of my daily ritual for so long, it feels weird to stop.’

‘Studying with the OU has taught me to write better, to be organised, to work to deadlines and to believe I can achieve things,’ says Martyn, ‘Some people think you're mad when you're in your late thirties and studying for a degree but studying with the OU was one of the best decisions I ever made.’