What did you study with the OU? Stories needed for inspiration!

[OtterPockets]

Name changed as there's some outing-ish details here. Background is, I married DH who's in the forces a couple of years ago and I'm fed up of my work situation. I feel like I've dropped everything and my career is revolving round his, which isn't what I want.

Before I married DH, I was a store manager, then a regional manager. I loved the day to day interaction, and problem solving, but this isn't compatible for many reasons now that I'm with DH and DC.

I did look at continuing my career when I moved cities to be with him, but I couldn't find anything and fell into admin, which I absolutely loathe but was the only job I could find. The jobs I secured had little to no interaction with people, no scope for progression and left me feeling really isolated. I hated the work itself as well, and often found myself bored and twiddling my thumbs a bit.

As I fell pregnant with DS, I felt myself plummeting into depression and knew it was work related. So I found a new, not great paying job in care hone admin, which is where I'm stuck now. I like aspects of my job, it's varied and I get to meet lots of people and there's a lot of practical elements to it, but I just don't get a lot of job satisfaction out of it.

I've been really lucky to be able to cut down my hours, and go part time, so this is the ideal time for me to retrain. I just don't know what as. All I know is I'm bloody miserable as I am now.

I ideally need a degree to lead to a clear job path. I need to do it through the OU or similar, as DH is often moved with work not a great deal of notice (moved three times in the last two years). Ideally it needs to lead to a job I can pick up anywhere in the country, or something I can even do from home at times. I'd like to think I'm intelligent, AAA* at A level, but that was 8 years ago, so I'm not sure how sharp I am now compared to what I used to be.

I just feel really lost. I thought about a degree in health care management and maybe a career as a care home manager, but I don't know if that's just a total waste of time.

I'd like to hear what you have done with distance learning, and what you've gone on to do  or if anyone can give me a nudge in any direction at all I'd appreciate it.

I did an English lit and lang degree when I was 22. I was working in the restaurant industry and feeling stuck. I never did anything with it as took a job as a GM of a restaurant a few years later and the hours weren’t conducive to furthering my studies and the money was too good to walk away from at 26!

I’ve since had dd, so like you have fallen into admin as I’m a single parent and there is no way on earth I could run a restaurant and find childcare to cover the mad hours. I’m looking into starting a second degree, probably within social work (my parents own residential homes for people with learning disabilities so I have a fair bit of knowledge and experience). I think you need to find something you’re passionate about and go from there.

It IS hard. You have to be really strict with yourself and keep up with the weekly learning. I found it really tough settling down after a shit day and knowing I had to write 1000 words on an essay I didn’t really understand. The online forums etc are really helpful, but I also found it hard work having to keep in touch with everyone (you do group assignments in later modules).

But I’m starting again so it can’t have been that bad! And the feeling when you graduate is out of this world! OU is definitely a long-term plan though, but if you have the drive to complete it’s so so worth it.

That's so encouraging to hear ! And quite reassuring too that you're managing it with a little one too.

I'm really hoping to start something next September - hoping it'll give me a year to save up so I can maybe pop DS into nursery for an additional day a week to give me a chance to study.

Ah. Who am I kidding it's never going to happen.

I'm meant to be working from home today, DH is here supposed to be looking after sick DS but decided he's too sick to look after him. So I'm trying to get screaming DS to sleep and if it's anything like yesterday I'll be trying till about 3pm there's no way I can manage a degree when I can't even get myself showered. I'm barely holding down a job and have zero help with DS or anything. And that's with DH here. Fuck knows what it'd be like trying to study and work without him here.

I'm currently studying with the OU. I have a 14 month old and an 8 year old. You do have to be strict but I honestly think you'll fly through it if those were your A-Level results. Is there any opportunity for child care for you? If you could spend one whole day a week studying and then a couple of evenings after bedtime you'd be fine with that. Especially if you intend on studying over 6 years. I did 2 modules in my first year and it was still easily managed but it did use my free time so I didn't do much else other than the usual household/childcare duties and studying. You can move along your module quicker if you find you have extra spare time one week which helped me a lot, I was always ahead in case anything happened to give my less time one week. You can do it! Just means every nap time or bedtime (kids) means you have to get your books/laptop out

DS is still screaming I bloody hate colds and teething.

Childcare I intend on saving as much as I can next year to put towards an additional day of childcare as and when I need it. That's why I've started working from home one day a week as overtime (not that that's happening with DH not having DS, I'll be lucky to have a job at all at this rate). DS does two days a week at nursery at the moment, so I'm hoping if I can save enough it'll give me enough time to study.

To be honest at the moment I don't seem to do anything else other than work, cleaning, cooking and childcare anyway. That seems to be my free time.

I'm just really stumped on what to do. I figure if it's something I'll be cramming in, I needs to be something I'd enjoy that'll lead to a career.

I was looking at youth justice with the idea of maybe becoming a probation officer, but the on the job training would have to be wherever we were posted, which isn't always compatible

Ah I know exactly how you feel...I work, study p/t and have a non-sleeping 2.5 year old (and am ttc soon because I have no sense)
It is doable but you have to be so strict with yourself...ie toddler messes about till 9pm you still have to study after!
Also if you can, chuck money at it...as many nursery days as you can afford...plus cleaner...plus lazy short cut food.

How's your maths/STEM/data skills...that"s probably where the moneys at.

I'm doing a maths degree with the OU. With those A-levels you'll probably find level 1 easy, as the thing with the OU is that they don't have entry requirements.

Camo fingers crossed for a sleeper this time round then!

I think what I really want is to combine a degree, work and some volunteering and head straight into work after. I've been mulling it over, and keep coming back to Healthcare Management, but I'm not sure how easily it would lead into an actual career.

STEM-wise I'd say I'm average. I really enjoy science, but maths I admit I actively despise. Not too bothered about money as such, though it would be nice to be back at the £45k I was on pre DH

Healthcare management sounds like it'd be a good fit for you, pays decently too :)
The lady I know who does something similar came from a marketing background before.

I'm hoping it would be! But then I worry that I'm only considering it because it feels comfortable though the idea of actually being paid to do my managers job which I'm already bloody doing really appeals.

I think I need to do some more research! But it seems like a degree that could open some doors up and down the country if I get in some experience and volunteering too.

I would still love to hear what others have done though there's some seriously inspiring stories here.