At College I gained more than 3 A Levels: I got the chance to do an EPQ in the development of Artificial Intelligence and spent time as a Student Mentor. As part of the mentoring programme, I got to help new students get used to College life and gave something back to the College by supporting activities like open events. The sense of community this built means these now form some of my best memories of College.

In those two years I developed the independence I needed to grow and understand the right pathway for my future. All this happened within a respectful atmosphere, a great College ethos and with outstanding care from staff.

I’m now pursuing a distance learning degree full-time with The Open University (OU), jointly specialising in English Literature and Philosophy. It’s an amazing route for those who prefer the idea of independent learning from home. You can study full- or part-time and there’s an incredible range of degrees – even an ‘open’ degree, where you select your own modules and build a degree based on your interests. I’ve also continued working as a Disability Playworker at the YMCA in my free time.

The OU provides a range of both physical and online materials, but from there the study is very self-guided. That’s brilliant for people who like structuring their own hours and learning independently. Whilst the ethos is one of self-teaching and there are no formal lectures, you still get an immense amount of support from tutors. They’re easily contactable for each module and online and occasional in-person tutorials help guide your learning. It’s easy to navigate the OU website as weekly activities, key aims and any future deadlines are clearly laid out. I also make use of the online forums to discuss modules with other students.

Because it’s online, there are a lot of freedoms and no timed lectures, so if you lack motivation, distance learning may not be right for you. However, if you choose a course and modules that interest you it’s immensely engaging. Planning out my hours and drawing up a structure for my week helps me keep up with my studies. In terms of socialising, there’s a mix of online and in-person events, with a wide range of societies and clubs available. I’ve joined the society for disabled people – one of the largest – and we have monthly meet-ups to discuss relevant issues and simply socialise.

Once I’ve completed my degree, my aim is still to become a teacher, continuing to work with young people and helping them find their path, as the College helped me find mine.

Don’t think you need to have it all planned out. There is this incredible pressure that we put on ourselves to know where we are going with our lives once we reach College, and we can forget to enjoy it! Though it’s good to have an idea of what you want and where you are headed, things do change. You don’t need to follow the conventional route in life just because it appears safer, you can take a gap year, get a job, go to university and then change your mind all over again because you have time to make mistakes.

So do look at your options. While my choice to get a degree appears conventional, there’s more to it in the modern world! With so many choices now, there’s bound to be one that’s the right path for you, so enjoy your time (and study hard!).

Bryony Maher

Reigate College: 2021-2023

Higher education: BA (Hons) Arts and Humanities with a joint specialism in English Literature and Philosophy, The Open University