Meet our graduates — Robina Mahmood
Robina graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA in Child and Family Studies.
A change in perspective
As a child, I never dreamed or believed that university was in my future. I didn’t have a great experience at school and lacked academic confidence. It was my manager at the children’s centre where I was working at the time, who’d formally been a social worker, who first suggested university as a pathway for me.
I immediately began looking for reasons why I couldn’t do it — for example that I didn’t have an English or Maths GCSE. She explained that I could study for these qualifications in the evening, and for free, at a local Further Education college. I started with English, deciding to pay attention and give it my best. To my surprise, I passed!
A time of upheaval — and new opportunities
At this point I was living in Sunderland, engaged and about to become a stepmum to my partner’s son who had autism spectrum disorder. Things appeared to be going well from the outside — we seemed to be a happy family. But behind closed doors I was being emotionally abused.
This led to a domestic incident that changed my life. I fled home to my family in Leeds — leaving behind my job, my home, my future husband and, hardest of all, my stepson. I accessed support from the local branch of Women’s Aid, an organisation that supports people who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic abuse.
I returned to working in children’s centres and was fortunate enough to again have managers who were very supportive and nurturing. I decided to continue my journey in education and attended a Maths GCSE evening class at Leeds City College. I passed — again to my surprise — and my confidence in my learning began to grow.
Starting the university journey
During our last class, a member of the community outreach team in the Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) paid us a visit and handed out application forms to apply to study part-time at the University of Leeds. I took the form home and looked at it, still having doubts. I decided to speak to a member of the advice and guidance team at the LLC to get their input and talk through my worries. They were extremely helpful and supportive, convincing me to apply — after all, as they told me, I had nothing to lose!
I was shocked to be offered a place on the part-time Child and Family Studies degree taught by the LLC. I turned up for the first day feeling nervous — I had visions of myself sat in a classroom surrounded by school leavers. I couldn’t have been more wrong; we were a diverse group and the people in that class have since become some of my dearest friends.
Graduation and beyond
We supported and encouraged each other all the way through the foundation level of the course, and onwards to the completion of our full BA Honours degrees. To be honest I hadn’t seen myself completing the foundation level, let alone gaining a full undergraduate degree from a prestigious institution like Leeds!
My time at university helped me develop a deeper and richer understanding of myself and my family, as well as how to support children, young people and families. I had grown in confidence and come to believe that I could go beyond what I’d thought was possible for me earlier in my life. I even completed the Leeds 10k, having never being a runner before!
I had also gained a deeper understanding of domestic abuse, and the impact it has on children, young people and families. I even understood what contributing factors can lead others to exhibit abusive behaviours. This new knowledge opened doors for progression in my career; I was offered a job as a family outreach worker at a children’s centre in Leeds, allowing me to put what I’d learned into practice and gain a wealth of new experience.
A world of possibilities
Opening another chapter of my academic studies, I applied to and was offered a place on the UK Government’s Step up to social work programme. Unfortunately for personal reasons I had to withdraw and focus back on my paid role, but it’s given me a real a boost knowing that I have the skills required (the team have invited me to get back in touch with them if I ever change my mind).
To anybody having doubts about whether to take the plunge and apply to university later in life, all I can say is that in my experience it’s always worth taking a leap of faith — because what do you have to lose?
If you’re feeling inspired by Robina’s story and would like to find out more about your options, why not get in touch with us?
We can provide free and impartial educational advice and guidance, and can also arrange for you to speak with the relevant teaching staff if you’re interested in one of our courses in particular.
