‘You can do anything you set your mind to’

After raising her large family, Nuala Folan, from Kidlington in Oxfordshire, fulfilled a long-held ambition to become a student.

When I found out that I had my degree, I was over the moon

When I was at school, a teacher told my mum that I was very bright and should consider going to university. No one in my family had been before, and I left school aged 16 to become a receptionist. But that teacher planted a seed in my mind.

I met Marcus, and we married when I was 19. He was, and still is, my best friend. We set up a construction business and I worked with him part-time while bringing up our eight children (the oldest is now 38, and the youngest is 22). I had always wanted a big family, and I adored raising my kids. I encouraged all my children to go into higher education, and it made me think I could do it, too. I decided that when my youngest was about to leave school, I’d go for it.

In 2012, I signed up to an access course (an equivalent qualification to A levels) and retook my English and maths GCSES. It was three days a week plus evenings, and was hard work, especially studying IT. I had so much to learn! I was the oldest on the course, but I find it easy to relate to people of all ages, having had so many children. It felt great to do something for myself after so many years.

I applied for a place to study social work at Oxford Brookes, but I was certain I wouldn’t get in. I was standing in the kitchen when I saw I’d been accepted, and I screamed! I couldn’t believe it. Marcus was so proud of me, too.

I felt very nervous on my first day at university, but I quickly bonded with two other women, also mature students, and we became great friends. I flew through my first year, but studying became difficult in my second year as I suffered two tragedies in quick succession. My niece died suddenly from an aneurysm, aged just 30. And a year later, her brother died suddenly too, aged 32. It was devastating for the entire family. They were so special to me and I really struggled. When you’re training to be a social worker, you go on work placements where you deal with difficult situations, such as child abuse, addiction and homelessness, so you have to be very resilient. At that point, I just couldn’t do it.

Rather than quitting, I studied part-time for my final two years, and finally, after many obstacles, I was able to submit my dissertation in December 2018.

When I found out that I had my degree, I was over the moon. I couldn’t believe I’d completed it. The family organised a party for me; it was strange being the centre of attention.

I’m now looking for a job in social work and I’m excited about the next stage of my life. I hope I can make a difference. Going through such a difficult time while I studied made me realise how much strength I have. I now believe that anything is possible.