Cheri Powell, BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care

UNIVERSITY is not just for school leavers – this is Cheri’s story of how she became a mature student at Cardiff Metropolitan University:

I left school at 14 with no qualifications, no goals and no ambitions. Teenage life wasn’t easy. By 18 I had two daughters and spent the next few years at home with my partner raising my children and living on benefits.

I married at 21 and had my third child at 26. I continued to be a stay-at-home mum raising my three children. Money was tight and life was difficult, but these were still very enjoyable years.

But as my children grew up they started to need me less. I started to become bored and to think about my future, and what I would do as they grew up.

With my lack of work experience and references as well as my age, I knew that employment would be difficult to find.

In my spare time I began to participate in introductory courses in my community. These soon led on to Level 2 courses, and then Level 3. My confidence in myself grew massively, as did my social life.

This encouraged me to join a widening access Level 3 psychology course that offered the opportunity of a place at Cardiff Met university upon completing a final exam.

When I enrolled on the course I didn’t think for one minute that I would really end up at university.

The course was amazing – it was so interesting I actually wanted to go home after classes and learn more. I studied hard and passed the final exam with 79% gaining me a place at university.

At first it was very exciting. I met so many new people, participated in lots of fun events and went to lots of parties – I felt so young again! After the foundation year things calmed down and the work got more intense, but what I’d learned prepared me for this.

With the support of my tutors and fellow students I have completed my second year and will soon enrol for my final graduation year. I can’t believe I’m actually doing it!

The best bits have been meeting so many new people, making friends, learning new skills and gaining an amazing amount of confidence – actually achieving things feels great!

Since starting university I have gained work with Sherman Theatre and the youth offending services, providing me with work experience that will help in the future.

I can now provide references to employers, and my CV is looking much better.

Anyone thinking of becoming a student should definitely go for it, whatever their age. Sure, it’s difficult, and takes dedication and commitment – but it offers so much in return.

I now have goals and ambitions in life, and university has definitely made me see the world differently. It is never too late – if I can do it anyone can.