Why I got started
I lost my job in 1995 because of my disability. I was at rock bottom at that point, I couldn't go any lower. The company that employed me didn't want me anymore - it wasn't a bias against disabled people, I was just not capable.
I began to think 'what can I do?' and searched for what I could do. So I tried to turn a negative into a positive. I thought 'I can do charity work and fund raising, I'm intelligent and articulate, and good at writing letters'. So I drew up a balance sheet of all my strengths and went out and did it.

Missing skills
I just felt really unfulfilled. I hadn't grasped maths. It had bedeviled me all my working life; I didn't understand algebra or geometry.

I felt, if I could just get the right teachers, someone who could get in my head and help me unravel the whole thing. That's what happened in the end, the right teacher was able to help me understand it.

Anxious start
I had a lot of anxiety because I live near a further education college and I thought it would be full of young people with mobile phones and fashionable clothes, and I felt I would not fit in. As it happened I was with mature students, people my own age, so that wasn't a problem.

How I adjusted
For me the biggest issue was my disability. I have a walking disability but I had to mobilise around a campus with lots of stairs and open spaces. You have to compete with other people on the same level: you've got two minutes to get there but it takes you a lot longer, so you have to overcome that.
There was a lot of help at the college, but I had to tell them I needed help. They're not mind readers and it may be embarrassing to ask, but if you don't ask you can't get help. They are sympathetic and understanding - if you have a disability - it's better to say than not to say. Because they wonder why you behave in a certain way and if you tell them what to expect they can assist you and you can cope much better.

Worried about finance
Student finance is a minefield. I had anxieties about money because I didn't know how I would pay for it. But there are disabled student allowances and student loans. I partly financed my way by getting bursaries and managed to pay my way through college, since I wasn't working.
If you do a little bit of work, people will respect that and meet you halfway if they see you're trying to help yourself.

My degree
I'm very pleased to have graduated with a degree; because that's something I always wanted to do. When I left school I couldn't go to university then because my family had no money, so the route to professional jobs was closed to me. I always wanted a university degree and now I'm an adult tutor. I have achieved what I wanted, to prove to myself that I am an intelligent person, but I did need support to get there. I'm proud that I took control, was honest about what my needs were and got the help I needed.

Find yourself
I would say go for it, because you will regret it if you don't. Through education you can find yourself. Until you understand what you don't understand, you won't find out about yourself. Learning is not just about getting a good job; it's about evolving as a person really. You'll realise everything is possible.