Three and a half years ago I was looking at some serious porridge. A decade or upwards. At that point, I could not conceive that I would have accomplished completing my first year at Uni. And now I am starting my second year, working towards my BA Honours degree in Financial Accounting.
I’m so grateful, to my college, to my teachers in prison, and most of all to The Open University. They put faith in me and backed me to start a degree and I’m smashing it. It has opened my mind and I am a sponge for knowledge now.
In here, you don’t have all your comforts like you do on the out, but it’s like Christmas for me when my yearly study materials arrive. I’m doing everything I can to better myself. This course has helped me in developing ambition.
When I get out at the end of 2026, I’m going to continue my degree and be the first person in my family to gain an honours degree. I hope that this hard work that I’m putting in right now leads me to make something of my life. I’m not overconfident. I’m a reserved kid and I’ve come from nothing. I’ve come a long way from being in a gang and getting into trouble. I’m going to climb up the career ladder and I’m going to take my two beautiful daughters along for the ride. I want them to see me accomplish my goals, so they strive to do the same.
To anyone reading this, it’s not just tests and results, it’s about finding your passion, enjoying research, and making money eventually (fingers crossed) I hope will come. But right now, while I’m finishing my sentence, I’m going to be the best I possibly can in my chosen field. And it’s all thanks to The Open University. Sincerely, thank you.
Such a powerful reflection and one that motivates Library Study Volunteers to continue with research requests for SiSE students