Higher level education isn’t always a straight line, and for me, it certainly wasn’t.
Discovering My Way
I first discovered my passion for law during A-levels at Sixth Form. From day one, it just clicked. My law classes were unlike anything else I had experienced, they were delivered through distance learning, with a tutor teaching remotely from Wales. The classes were small, interactive, and genuinely engaging.
For the first time, I actually looked forward to lessons. In contrast, my other subject, Economics and Business, was the complete opposite. Large classes, uninspiring delivery, and a structure that didn’t suit me at all. I dreaded going. It became clear very quickly that how something is taught matters just as much as what you’re learning.
That experience taught me something important early on, I thrive in flexible, focused learning environments. And more importantly, not everyone learns the same way.
Questioning the Mainstream University Path
Despite my love for law, the pressure at the end of Sixth Form was very much one directional, go to university. That was the expected route, sign up, take the loan, figure it out later. There was very little conversation around alternatives. Nothing about building a CV, gaining work experience, apprenticeships, or different learning styles. Just one path, presented as the “right” one. But I wasn’t convinced.
I knew from my A-level experience that distance learning worked for me. So instead of following the crowd, I started exploring options independently. That’s when I discovered the Open University.
Choosing to Earn and Learn
At 18, I made a decision that felt right for me, to earn and learn at the same time.
I enrolled with the Open University to work towards a Law Diploma and eventually a Law degree. It gave me the flexibility I needed, while allowing me to gain real world experience alongside my studies, something I valued deeply. It wasn’t easy.
Over the six years it took to complete my degree, life happened, as it always does. There were challenges that impacted my focus and performance, grief, health struggles, and changing relationships. Life. At one point, I seriously considered giving up. But I didn’t.
Through long nights, hard work, and persistence, I completed my law degree in 2006. And I’ve never regretted that decision.
The Future Catches Up With You
Looking back now, it’s incredible how much the world has changed. Remote working, flexible schedules, online learning, these are now widely accepted, even expected in many industries. What once felt like an alternative path is now part of the norm.
In many ways, the way I learned back then prepared me for the way we work today. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was building skills that would become incredibly valuable, self-discipline, adaptability, and the ability to work independently in a digital environment. When the world shifted, especially during COVID, it felt like everything finally aligned.
Anyone Unsure of Their Path
If you’re standing at a crossroads, unsure whether the traditional university route is right for you, there is no single correct path.
What matters is finding what works for you, your learning style, your goals, your circumstances. Whether that’s university, distance learning, apprenticeships, or something entirely different.
I once worried that not going to a mainstream university would limit my opportunities. In reality, it did the opposite. It gave me the freedom to learn in a way that suited me, to gain experience alongside my studies, and to build a future that aligned with who I am.
Looking back now, it wasn’t just the right decision at the time, it was the right decision for my future.