Why did you choose University Campus Oldham?
Some of my family had studied at UCO and I’d heard so many good things about it. I felt like this was an amazing opportunity for me as it was in Oldham – I knew travelling into Manchester wouldn’t have been possible alongside my family commitments.
It was like a dream come true, as I thought I had lost out by not studying earlier in my life.
What was the highlight of your time at UCO?
The highlight for me was the environment: the staff were all so helpful and I made lots of friends.
I never missed a day, and my friends and I came in on extra days to meet 1:1 with tutors. This was so helpful, as returning to education after a long time was a big step for me.
Did you complete any placements as part of your course?
I completed placements in the primary school my children used to attend. I was already involved with the school as a parent governor, so I knew the school well.
These placements really helped me to understand diverse needs and explore the real world. I delivered 1:1 interventions, helping pupils when they were struggling. I brought these experiences back to my studies – they helped me to understand the theory and my assignments.
Did you receive support from other teams?
Yes, I received a lot of support from the Careers and Library teams. The Library team helped me to become an independent learner as I understood how to access texts and what good research looked like.
Approaching the end of my degree I was still unsure of what I wanted to do next, so I went to Careers for support. My careers advisor took the time to provide guidance and information around various career paths I was interested in.
My advisor also helped me with creating a CV, job searching and developing interview techniques. I was still using this service after I left UCO, as it really helped me to build confidence.
What were your next steps?
Alongside studying I had done some agency work, and thanks to experience of working in a secondary school I got a job as a Teaching Assistant, which I enjoyed.
I am now a Learning Mentor. I’ve been in this role for around a year and I absolutely love it.
I do lots of different interventions with students – I have completed the Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) course, so the student and I decide how best to work together. I’ve always been a creative person, and I enjoy bringing to my work with young people.
How has attending UCO helped you achieve your career goals?
Doing placements alongside my course helped to build my confidence and enabled me to see the bigger picture. If it had just been a course based on theory, I don’t think that would have been as helpful. I felt like I’d been living in my own little bubble with my children and my experience at UCO helped my step into the bigger world.
What advice would you give to someone considering UCO?
I’m forever telling everyone about UCO – my sister-in-law is starting in September!
The course I studied includes working with children, young people and families – so if you’re not sure exactly what you want to do in your career, you gain insight into a range of opportunities.
UCO has literally changed my life, if I hadn’t had the chance to study in Oldham I probably wouldn’t be working, I would likely still be a mum at home. A lot of women in my community must be the same way I was, not seeing opportunities because they don’t know about them, so that’s why I tell everyone about UCO.
