When I was a small child my mother never encouraged me to do well at school. When I went to senior school I was told that I was stupid and thick and I would never make anything of my life.

After three failed marriages, I felt that my life was passing me by, and that I needed to do something, so I contacted my local college at Hitchin, Herts where I went to see a course adviser who was very helpful and gave me plenty of things to think about. I went home with my mind working overtime, and the following day I made a phone call back to the college that was to change my life for the better.

I started in October 1999. My first day was a great shock to me. I walked into a classroom full of students. Their ages ranged from 18 to 70. I felt very strange, but was soon made very welcome and after a while I settled down to start my first day of learning, after so many years.

This was my first day working towards my City and Guilds Numeracy stage one, which I passed in August 2002. I was so proud of myself as it was the first time in my life that I had passed an exam.

I also began a literacy class in October 1999. I felt the same as I did on my first day at maths. The room was full of students all at different ages and level of work, but I was made very welcome by the tutor and the students. To be honest, I never felt that I would complete the course, but the tutor felt that I had a lot to offer, so I started to do an English City and Guilds Communication Literacy Course, which was 'Word Power' Level one. It took me two years and plenty of hard work to gain this qualification. I was so proud of myself and so were my two children. It is just a pity that my mother is not around to see what I have achieved. I have proved to myself and others that I am not as daft as my parents thought I was.

In February 2002 I started to do a computer course called 'Compute To Write' and I passed the first stage in June 2002. I have gained so much since my first day at college that I have never looked back, and life could not be better for me. I now live on my own with my four cats.