Careers advice anyone?

[lucyintheskywithdinos]

I'm after opinions on the way forward for me, I'm going to describe my situation first.

The goal is for DP and I both to be able to work part time as we HE our DDs. He's a graphic designer.

I haven't worked since DD1 was born 4 and a bit years ago, I was working as a TA in a unit for children with EBD. I have straight As at A level in English Lit, Psychology and French, no degree as I was working to keep DP in his degree straight from school (come from a abusive family, so moved in with DP at 16, am now 27).

I just have no idea what I want to do! I have thought about counselling, but am short on ideas really. I would like to go to university, but don't know how we'd make the finances work...open university possibly, but is it as well-regarded as other universities? (I had offers from Durham and University college London to study business but things were very traumatic with my family at the time and I couldn't face it).

The situation is complicated by my hearing impairment. I have about 25% of normal hearing and have done since birth. I am a fantastic lip reader, but can't function in groups without DP or my Mum to help me. One-to-one most people can't tell I have hearing problems.

Any ideas?

oops! an abusive family

OU is very well thought of I think - but I think you need a plan for what you want to do at the end of the degree first

I tutor for the OU. The degrees are very rigorous and highly thought of and it is an ideal way to get a degree if you have other responsibilities such as childcare and/or job. You do need to be self-motivated, although you will be one of a cohort of 25 so will get good individual support if you need it. I also sometimes work in traditional universities - last year I taught a course with 120 students on it, you can imagine how much individual attention they got. The OU are also excellent at supporting students with special needs and will give you lots of funded help for your hearing impairment. I often have students with difficult life histories, and give them confidence-boosting support with their work, I am not sure if that is the case with all OU tutors but OU material is designed much more with less traditional bright yet under-confident students in mind.

On a typical OU course you may be putting in about 6 assignments, which your tutor will assess, giving you feedback which enables you to progress and build on your previous work, while at a traditional uni you will probably get 2 or 3 assessments per module and there will be little attempt to give you feedback which builds on your previous work.

At the OU you can earn and learn as well, so you may be able to go back to working as a TA part-time while undertaking a degree which would later allow you to do a PGCE.

Go for it! OU advisors will be happy to have a no commitments chat with you about what the OU could do for you.

Hi lucy

Some questions;

What was your motivation for choosing a business degree? Are you still interested in working in commerce and if so, could you run your own small business, or do you want to work for someone.

Were you happy in the TA job you were doing?

There is a good tool on the Prospects website that enables you to generate job ideas based on your interests - hereIt's designed for graduates but sounds like you will probably go this route.

Some degrees have bursaries available - social work, teaching.

Think carefully about your motivation if you go into caring professions as you may be 'reacting' to your family background, rather than actively choosing something that will fulfil you, IYSWIM. You might be happier as a town planner, a gardener or a librarian say.

Hope this helps.