Further education advise needed

[Pixie Power!]

My friends all have degrees and have ok jobs, not GREAT job, but they are ok. I too have an ok job on an equal wage, but they still seem to class me lower then themselves (does that make sense?) I get the feeling that they think I’m stupid and not very academic because of this and this is not the case at all. I'm not saying that I'm the brain of Britain or anything like that, just that I am capable of a lot more then my job describes.

Yes I don’t have a degree; I wasn’t fortunate enough to go to college or university. My parents are A LOT older then ‘normal’ parents and therefore had the ‘get a job as soon as you can’ mentality. I had no encouragement from them at all and still don’t. There was no, go girl, go better myself! Also having an extremely intelligent older sister didn’t help. I was always compared to her and I could never compete.

So I’m now giving myself the encouragement, 11 years too late, but hey it’s the end result that matters. I’m looking into doing some kind of further education.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I want to do this from home as the lack of encouragement over the years has also taken its toile on my self-esteem and could not face going to college or anything like that, also I don’t want to have to spend mega money.

Does anyone know of any good web sites that offer a number of different courses? I don’t really know what I want to do…I would really like to do law but I don’t have enough confidence in myself to do down that road.

Any help, or advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Emma

 

[UKDEB]

Emma, what I always tell myself is that just because I don't have a degree doesn't mean I'm not capable of getting one. And really it's about state of mind - I have a friend who clearly believes she is superior to me, but because I don't consider myself inferior, it matters not one iota to me.

The Open University offers a wide range of courses and you can do it all at your own speed. I did look into it a while ago, but I can't remember all the details.

And if you want to study law, why not? You go girl!

 

[Pixie Power!]

Thank You Deb, for such a positive responce, I just wish I had that from my family Im off to check your link now.

Thanks Again

Emma

 

[caroley]

It does annoy me when people get all superior over education. I chose to do an apprenticeship instead of university, and I don't regret it. I work in a field that I like, and I think that is the most important thing of all.

If you want to do this, you go ahead and do it. You can do anything you put your mind to.
Good luck from me, anyway!

 

[Sue's Mum]

Our DD got her degree the hard way. She did her ONC and HND over four years at night school - her employers paid the fees. Then she discovered that her HND counted as a certain number of modules towards a degree. So she spent the next three years studying at night school and she finally did it. (It was supposed to be two years but the college changed the goal posts half way through.) Her employers would not fund this as they said it was not necessary for her to have a degree for her job. A bit short-sighted I thought.

She did it for her own self-esteem - can't say it was a pleasure LOL. Be warned, it was a LOT of hard work and for the last three years I didn't see the top of my dining-room table, well except at Christmas, that is. In addition to the normal working day, she put in an a further 20 hours a week of study. I think she felt the same way as you do, Emma but at the time it seemed to have done her a lot of good.

The person you should do it for is you. You are the most important person in the world for without your good health and well-being, you won't function very well.

Before you put yourself through a lot of hard work, could you have a heart to heart with each of your friends separately and let them know how you think they perceive you. Perhaps they don't really mean "it" to come out that way and they might be able to re-assure you about this. If they are true friends, then whether you have a degree or not should not make the slightest difference to the way they feel about you. They are friends because they like you the way you are.

Good luck.

 

[Naomi UK]

Hi Emma

I can highly recommend the Open University. I was in the same position as you with friends thinking they were superior because they went to Uni and I went straight into work and then I saw an ad for OU. I applied for their social science foundation course with the plan to go on to do a law degree but enjoyed the course so much I decided to stick with social science. I am now in my 3rd year and although it is a lot of hard work, it really is worth it! Getting that results envelope just before Christmas was the best present I could have asked for

The foundation course is about £400 with the law courses over £1,000 each. The first year is nerve wracking especially when it is assignment time, but there is always a tutor on hand to help and usually classes to go to. You get to build a circle of friends who you know you can depend on when you just can't get your head around a chapter or concept. They can be real life savers

If you want any info, please let me know, otherwise, good luck with whatever you decide to do. You can do it

Naomi

 

[Janice]

Hi Emma

I cant say that I could add anything to the sound, good advice that you have already been given here by our friends, but I wanted you to know that I do understand how you feel, having been in pretty much the same situation years ago. I still regret not pushing myself to go out and do it - so I wanted to wish you Good Luck with whatever you decide, and dont forget, you have a wonderful support system here on the Dis!

Let us know how you get on with your decision.

 

[signtalker]

hi there, Id like to add that I work in education, at a city college 30 miles away
from where i live, we have many many mature students at our college in the same
postion you are finding yourself in, I think you would be pleasantly surprised if you went along
for a look round and made an appointment with a member of staff to talk about your options.|If i can help in any way please mail me.

jules

 

[elisebutt]

Have a look at this websitei learn . if you want to get into the habit of working from the pc
There are a couple of courses i have done on here just to keep my skills up to date

 

[Disneymomma]

Not from the UK, but I want to provide some encouragement! I was in the same
position! I was in an "okay" job, and made "okay" money. I really was never happy, especially because I had never finished school- I had to help my family. Many of my friends had gone to college, and I felt as though they loooked down upon me as well. I also had feelings of inadequacy concerning this as well. (Also a very unsupporting family.)
Once my daughter was born, I knew that I had to make a change- for her as well as myself. I could not consider being in this dead end job with little opportunity for the next twenty years.
I finally re-applied to the college I attended right out of high school, 10 years later. I also felt self concious, and "older" that those around me. However, I knew that a change neeed to be made Upon returning, I found a new confidence within myself and did very well-MUCH better than when I had been younger. I truly found a new part of myself through the education and positive outlook for the future. I graduated with my bachelors two years ago, and am now two classes away from my Masters. ( After I started-I just couldn't stop.) I am now teaching and completely changed the direction of my life, and that of my daughter. I have a vastly different outlook, one that is much more positive and fulfilled just with the knowlegde that I KNOW that I can truly do anything I want to do now- I never felt that way before. You too can make that change in your life and become a positive influence to those around you- Do not continue to think about this any longer-Just do it!!!!! Where will you be five years from now? In the same job. feeeling the same way? NO!!! You can do whatever you put your mind to!!! Just take one day at a time- It will all come to you-you deserve to do this for yourself. Take my advice. When I look back at my life then and now, I cannot even believe the changes I have made! You can truly do anything! My wishes and prayers are with you.

 

[Enright78]

I am a FE lecturer in Law!
Try the OU by all means, they have a good foundation course, which will let you know if you really
like it!
You could also try contacting your local FE college. We, and many others, offer an access course designed for people like yourself with lots of get up and go! We help you get back into the swing of study and prepare your study skills. Try looking up a college in your Yellow pages or PM me with your location and I'll let you know where is nearest.
Best of luck, go for it!

 

[BevS97]

just to add to the general voices of encouragement - my husbands family sounds very similiar to yours, getting a job was considered more important than university, so my hubby bought a shop and ran his own business for many years.

When we had Katie we realised that the shop didn't fit well into family life - and he started to think about other options. Eventually he called a couple of university's to ask for prospectus's and within a week he had visited 2 of them and been offered a place on a course at Northumbria University. I should mention he was 36. He was pretty terrified - came home the first day and said he couldn't do it and it was a stupid idea. He decided to finish the first term and see how he felt - he did very well his first term and he's never looked back.

He did 2 years full time, and then went on a placement year. At the end of his placement, the council asked him to stay on, so he is now doing his final year part-time over 2 years. This time next year he will be nearly done. It will have taken him 5 years, and he won't deny it's been hard work - I think full time college was easier than the part time which he is doing now, but he has enjoyed it, and he met loads of other mature students.

His sister is doing an OU degree, and really enjoying that.

Good Luck

Bev

 

[***SandieUK***]

I think The Open University is just what you are looking for!

It took five years, but last year I graduated with a BA (Honours) from the OU. It was hard work and you need to be 100% committed but if you choose subjects you enjoy you will find the whole experience very fulfilling. You gets lots of help and support from the OU and the fees are nowhere near what you'd pay anywhere else.

Go for it!

 

[***SandieUK***]

I think The Open University is just what you are looking for!

It took five years, but last year I graduated with a BA (Honours) from the OU. It was hard work and you need to be 100% committed but if you choose subjects you enjoy you will find the whole experience very fulfilling. You gets lots of help and support from the OU and the fees are nowhere near what you'd pay anywhere else.

Go for it!

 

[***SandieUK***]

Ooops!

 

[Nick The Cat]

Just to add my encouragement to you Emma, just go for it if that's what you want to do. I was one of the lucky ones who went to Uni straight from school (I had supportive parents) but I know of at least three friends who have got their degrees in their thirties by either going to the local uni or through the OU. My SIL left school with no qualifications and has never worked but has obtained a degree in English and a MA and is now teaching ,all in the last few years. She said what spurred her on to do it was that she felt thick having married into our family (PhDs and degrees) and now I'm the one who feels thick (qualifications out of date, not working etc.)


Just go for it!

 

[shooter364]

If I may?

Emma, just do what you want to do... whatever it is that is going to make you happy. I didn't go to university when I finished school, because my mum couldn't afford to send me. I spent 8 years in the Marines then literally landed a$$-backward into a job I love and am really good at. To make matters even better (in my own spiteful little way) I make a lot more money than my older brother and sister that are both uni graduates. Whenever they put on airs I laugh in their faces. I have since gone on to taking classes at night, and I can now comfortably converse in 4 languages (my siblings can barely speak english between them).

Go back to school if that is what will make you happy, but only if it will make YOU happy. I applaud that kind of courage and commitment.

Bill