From Doubt to Degree, via the OU

Lyndsay Thomson from Cumbernauld overcame self-doubt and gained confidence and determination to achieve a degree in Business Management with the OU. In this blog she shares her OU journey. 

I originally started studying with The Open University in 2004, but unfortunately a difficult pregnancy and some ill health meant that life had other ideas for me at that time. Although I had to put a halt to my plans, they were always in the recesses of my brain, bubbling away.

Ten years later, I decided that I was going to go for it again and nothing was going to stop me this time. I restarted my study route, studying towards a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Business Management with Economics. 

I was happily settled in a career in IT and had no intention of changing careers; this degree was to prove to myself, and my family, that I was capable of completing higher education. I succeeded and graduated last year, at the age of 41. 

During my OU studies I had some fantastic tutors. I found that how and where I studied developed as time passed. I started off studying at the dining room table, but was easily distracted, so I bought a desk and cleared out the junk from the spare room. Whilst this was nowhere near a perfect space, it was my space, and somewhere that I could close the door and get peace and quiet if that’s what I needed. 

The most challenging elements of studying for me was the balancing act between putting enough time in to do the best I can do and giving up precious time with family and friends. 

Through my time studying with the OU my family had some difficult times, including some close bereavements and I found myself having to study in awkward places and in chunks of the day. 

There were times when I would have to convince myself that I really was doing enough and that I really could keep going, because sometimes I seriously doubted that I could.  

I was surprised to find that studying was often good for my mental health."

I was surprised to find that studying was often good for my mental health. When I was able to study and get my head into that space, I was able to forget about everything else that was going on, even if it was only for half an hour.

Often other self-love things like going for a bath or having a glass of wine were out of the question but studying wasn’t. 

I also became chair of OU Pride, the OU Students Association support group and safe space for all LGBTQI+ OU students and their OU Student allies.

If you are thinking of studying with the OU, I have just one piece of advice: Do it! The only way you will be able to get rid of the doubt is to give it a go. I did and I do not regret it for a second. In fact, I plan on applying for my Masters degree next year!