Anne Scrimgeour
My father was a soldier and as a result my family moved around a lot. I went to six different Primary Schools, was always the ‘new girl’ and was also quite shy. I started Secondary School at an ‘all girls’ school in Twickenham, which I enjoyed, but moved to an armed forces school in Germany and for the three years I was there I hated it. I always felt uncomfortable and became very withdrawn.
After school I worked in a variety of shops. I married at 22 and when I had my daughter at 24 I gave up work. I went on to have two more children and stayed at home to bring them up. I’d always wanted a career rather than a job and I thought about it for ten years before I finally decided to return to full time study. I’d always been involved in some learning though as I knew I had to keep doing something.
I went to evening classes at the Morgan Academy, for example, and attended the AHEAD course offered by the University of Abertay. Eventually I wrote a letter to Bell Street asking what qualifications I needed to study Psychology and got a very nice letter back. I then became a student at Dundee College and through open distance learning got the qualifications I needed. I was then able to enrol at the University of Abertay, and in 2006 completed my Batchelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology. In 4th year I got a job as a research assistant in the Psychology Department, which I’m still doing.
Do it! Even if you don’t see it through to the end, you will benefit from furthering your education
Studying for my degree has changed my life. When I started I didn’t even know how to switch a computer on and now I’m a teaching assistant on a computer-based statistics module and am thinking about doing a Ph.D! I have more self-confidence than I have ever had in my life. I think differently, my outlook has broadened and I’m a far more positive person than before. I make more informed decisions about my life. Even aspects like shopping – I am now aware of my power as a consumer. Learning has been a fantastic experience.