I just dropped out of uni and am now studying from home and I've been feeling pretty ashamed of my 'failure' at traditional uni. It's nice to see someone I respect so much doing the same thing, and I think as I study more and realise how much work it is I'm realising that I haven't actually failed and that this path is as valid as any other
ThisTinyGlitch... I started off studying at a traditional uni aswell and during my second year I faced severe health problems, one after the other. It became so difficult to study and I became very sad and depressed. I was constantly in pain and from the moment I arrived at uni, I would want to go back home. I started missing so many classes and my marks started getting affected badly. I decided to leave uni halfway through third year. I felt devastated because I really wanted to graduate with the people that I started with, and also because I really wanted to graduate from this uni too. In 2016 I applied for credit transfer at the open university and luckily It was all good. Although the open university wasn't easy in terms of workload but it made my life easy because I could study from home. They also have online lectures so even if u miss it, it's still recorded and you have access to it at any time. I graduated last month (December 2017) and I am so happy. If it wasn't for the OU I wouldn't have ever graduated. I got the degree classification that I wanted too. I worked soooooo hard for it. Also I understood the stuff they taught more at open uni than at a traditional uni. At traditional uni's the stuff they teach you isn't the stuff the assignments are based on. You have to do most of the research yourself. (I don't understand what lecturers/tutors get paid for then?) However, at open uni the stuff they teach you is exactly what the assignments will be on. Its very precise. Also they give you learning outcomes of the stuff you get marked on and what the content of ur assignment should include. This is something traditional unis don't do, so how do u know what the marker is looking for?. Would highly recommend the Open University!!
I dropped out of Uni due to mental health issues, I returned in my late 20s, I just want to say: It's NEVER too late guys. You do what you have to do now to take care of yourself. Not everybody will have the same path. It's not the end of the world if you have to take a break, or change your programme, or decide that you don't need university (plenty of people flourish and find careers they love in alternative ways). Don't compare yourself to others, find your own path.
I have mental health issues aswell. And it's really nice to hear someone say that it's okay to take your time. I also have felt like I have to keep up with all my friends and I'm not ready for half the things they're ready for🌙✨
I studied through the OU, it's a great university. I learnt so much and It enabled me to get the job i wanted as a chemist (i studied BSc Natural Sciences). It honestly changed my life.
Orange lipstick with a yellow top are STUNNING on you Claudia! Thanks for sharing this kind of experiences, it's so important so hear such things, you're helping me not feeling a lonely renegade, lots of love ❤
Thank you so much for making this video! It's so nice to hear about someone's experiences with the OU that are similar to mine! I too study with the OU after not being able to work after sixth form because of awful panic attacks and depression + anxiety, so finding out about the OU was a lifesaver for me. I'm now 21 and going into level 2 of my psychology BSc, plus recovering well from a very bad few years of mental illness! I'm so happy that the OU has helped you too and wish you the best of luck with it and your recovery process! :) ❤️
I really relate to what you said about the expectation of going to uni 'on time' and what is considered late. I started university at 21. I was unable to for all those years because of several suicide attempts (I have Bipolar). I was judged by family members and friends of the family for not going 'on time'. There were great expectations due to me always being branded as a 'gifted and talented child' by my schools. It was many people's opinion that I was wasting my life because of this. However it wasn't my fault, as it wasn't yours. We have mental illnesses and that is nothing to be ashamed of. There is no such thing as on time, only the right time for that person. I wouldn't have coped and probably would have killed myself if I went at 18 (I couldn't get through A levels without attempting it so I had to do an access course). A boy actually did kill himself at my cousins uni as he was so depressed for these reasons. That is why it is so important for there to be support at university and for people not to be pressured until they are truly ready. Now I go to Kent, which is actually probably quite near you. I'm from London so I had to move away. And it was so scary! I had a hellish time in first and second year. I even attempted suicide during the summer break. Oddly my marks don't suffer that much either. But now I have friends here and I'm President of a society and things are really improving. But it took two years. I think you and everyone else who has mental health problems and manages to go to university is so incredibly brave and strong. And btw you are inspiring me for my mental health campaigns for third year ❤️
Thank you Claudia, this video actually made me cry with relief. You basically covered every worry I had about studying at OU, I'm 20 at the moment with a physical disability and mental illnesses that I currently can't get help for because of the pressure to be the "normal" child, so I'm struggling. I've already signed up and got my place and my funding, I start my first module in October and I have to get a part time job alongside it because of money issues, that's what I'm most worried about. The idea of only starting uni now is scary as hell because of that "race" you mentioned to get things done. What with moving out of my abusive mother's house onto my dad's soon and the hell fire that will rain down upon when that happens, and everything else, I was even considering doing the two modules I've got a place on and then dropping out of the course. We'll have to see about that, maybe uni isn't for me, truth be told I'm still clinging onto the idea of being the first person in a number of generations to go to uni and the pressure I've put on myself since I was a child to achieve that still lingers. I'm still concerned that I won't cope, but this did help. You can but try, and dropping out is still an option if I can't.
I got my entire community college degree entirely online, it took me 8-9 years and I have 0 regrets. I wasn't ready at the end of high school to go away so the ability to go online and do my entire courseload on my own timeline was freeing. Online courses have come a long way since I started so there's absolutely no reason for anyone to rag on you for taking the online route. Keep plugging away, we're all pulling for you.
I really admire you. I really, REALLY wish that I had thought about the OU when I finished my A-Levels. I've just graduated from the University of Southampton, and while it's a good university it really wasn't worth all the stress it added to my already horrendous mental health. When I was in my 2nd year at college, my Dad had a very severe accident. He almost died. How he lived is beyond me. The nurses were even in awe. He now requires 24/7 intense care in a rehabilitation home. The last six years have been hell for me since the accident. I have severe depression and anxiety. I've been self harming, and I've been having horrendous panic attacks that have left me hospitalised. I also three years ago was diagnosed with Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism. This had an even more drastic effect on my health. I've since had a total thyroidectomy which now means I'm considered Hypothyroid. My body has been through so much. I've been diagnosed with PTSD from my Dads accident as I'm his only child and I was the only one fully involved. Everything, at 17 and onwards, has been on my shoulders. It's broken me. University was the worst decision I could have made. Yes, I passed my A-Levels, and my degree with a 2:2 but it wasn't worth it. If I had been told that the OU was there for students just out of college then I would have opted for the OU. I always thought it was for "older generations". I put so much pressure on myself. I kept telling myself that even through everything with my Dad, that I could still achieve the best. That broke me. I would like to do a degree through the OU in the future, but not until I'm in a better place mentally. Like you, I have always had a fascination with Anne Boleyn. I've got an A-Level in Medieval History and one day I want to do a degree in it. Anyway, I'm finally receiving intense CBT after years of being passed around in systems. It's taken years for me to be given the help. I've asked, and asked. I've gone to various psychiatric appointments and finally they're helping me. Sorry to have gone on and on in this comment. I hope that you succeed in all that you do, but if you don't do as well as you want to then do not worry. Your efforts are incredible. You've been through, and are going through, so much. I admire you. Good luck with everything! Xx
I just want to add that my Mum and Dad are divorced - while she supported me, what I meant was that I was the one making all the decisions over his life etc due to me being his next of kin and only child :)
Nice video ,and great advice for those struggling or those who doubt that the OU offers a "real degree" when it's actually harder to get a first (or a 2:1 or 2:2) and you have to be self-motivated and do a lot of work on your own. I've long gone past the point of caring what other people think of me (and yes, I got the "what are you doing with your life?" questions too and generally replied with "nothing 🙂" because I didn't want them to know about my mental health issues as I knew they wouldn't be understanding, so I preferred them to think of me as lazy, which was silly really but it just meant avoiding awkward discussions with people who are the type to say "But Stephen Fry has depression and look at what he's achieved! Why can't you?!"). Bleh. Anyway, I'm really sorry to hear about what you've gone and are going through. My problems occurred later in life, in my 20s, where I just wouldn't see anyone and basically spend the whole day in my room doing nothing. The only reason I don't have panic attacks is because I stupidly got addicted to prescription meds which leaves me like a zombie at times but I'm cutting down and currently studying Q62 (BSc Computing and IT), albeit it's early days. Finished TM111 in September and am studying TM112 and MU123 right now. 30 credit modules right throughout the course argh! I do always introduce myself to my tutor as soon as they contact me and tell them about my problems. Two were really understanding, not sure what the other person thinks as he didn't get back to me. And I might need to ask him for an extension for my first TMA, which isn't ideal. The female tutors seem to be a lot more understanding and like you say, all the students are really cool, all kinds of ages, backgrounds, even people from other countries study with the OU. And plenty of people also have mental health issues so it's nice to feel that you aren't completely alone otherwise I think it would feel kinda isolating. I've made some good contacts on the WhatsApp and Facebook groups too. We of course never discuss TMA questions ;-) But it's nice to talk to people when you feel like quitting as you're getting behind (like you I have days where I lack the motivation to do anything and other days where I can study for hours on end as I genuinely enjoy the work and the challenge it provides). Like you, I'm not upset that I don't have the "social aspect" as I was never particularly social anyway, and when I was it only lead to trouble like drinking to excess. And bang on regarding the timeframe. I don't want to say my age but in no way is 23 too late lol, otherwise I'm screwed hehe. You need to be ready to do it and it's the right path for me and certainly seems like it for you. I agree that it's good for the mental health aspect as you feel very confident when you get a good result and it makes all the studying worthwhile. Keeps your mind busy too so you don't have as much time to dwell on things. As for employment after my degree, I'm kinda hoping I can work from home on my computer but we'll have to see about that. That feels a long way away right now, being able to go out there and work in a busy office 9-5. Out of curiosity, are the high school teachers still sarcastic and bitter? And treat you like a child even though you're 16-18 when you're doing your A-levels? I had hoped that had changed since my days but I guess not 😞 Anyway, I'm rambling as usual. I wish you the best of luck in everything you do going forward. I hope you're making progress with your studies and more importantly with your mental health. It takes time but you seem determined. Take care of yourself 🙂
Planned to apply for Open University last year, but everything happened too late. Really thankful to have found this video, as I can relate in some ways. Really hope everything went well with your Degree, this has helped motivate me to apply 🖤
I'll likely do my postgrad through the OU I think. And I know that feeling of uni and life being a race - I took a gap year to do work and to make sure I wanted to go, and then the last 7 or 8 months of my final year were absolute mayhem for my mental and physical health. So I won't officially graduate until 2018 anyway, despite just finishing my degree work a couple of weeks ago. I'll be 23 when I graduate, but I honestly don't mind at this point. After being at uni, I know plenty of others who were studying at different stages of their lives, and some had a tougher time than I did and some didn't. I'm just relieved that I've finished uni and likely done very well actually, and that my uni support services were so so so incredible. This was a bloody wonderful video and was a nice reassurance of the worries that were niggling away at the back of my mind.
This video came at the perfect time for me - I've been in 'normal' university for 2/3 years but after a really bad period due to my mental health where I wasn't able to attend lectures, I fell behind and failed some exams. I've just had my final attempt at these exams and since I've been playing catch-up for over a year, I might not be able to carry on if I fail. I've been looking into options and I thought that my situation meant that I couldn't carry on my degree in any way because 'normal' university won't work for me. Thank you so much for sharing, this was really insightful and a huge help in making me feel like my life isn't over lol 💕
I am really glad that it worked out for you Claudia. :3 There is absolutely nothing wrong with studying from home. I go to Uni on campus and personally I find it very draining because of my mental health. It really takes so much out of me that I wish I could study from home. And never worry about the age thing. I changed my course twice until I finally ended up doing a Journalism degree. I was 21 doing my First Year for the third time because I didn't like the other two courses I enrolled in. I am 22 now and still have one more year to finish my graduate degree. It doesn't matter at all, seriously. When it comes to Uni everyone is all over the place. Nothing to be ashamed of. I am doing Journalism but I am also doing Literature as a contextual study. I love it so much :3 :3 I wish you all the best xoxo I am sure you will do fantastic.
I resonated with a lot you said here! I was known for being a great student until Year 12 (last year) where I couldn't cope and my grades started to plummet. I made up those credits this year and am now just scraping through Year 13. All going well, I'll be doing my Diploma in Information and Library Studies next year from home through Open Polytechnic. I've gotten many a sneer from teachers and peers who don't understand my situation. Your videos (especially this one) are so reassuring to so many of us! Thankyou for everything you share. P.S. You look so beautiful in this video.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm starting studying from home this year. I'm 30 now and I've already started and quitted chemistry. I was pretty good actually but my mental illness made it impossible for me to keep up with the schedules, especially the lab work. Organic Chemistry lab work was hard to keep up with for 'normal' students, so I was completely overwhelmed. I've stayed on for 7 years because I thought I could do it and was embarrassed. Now that I'm older and more mature, I'm starting to study IT from home and I'm very confident. I have a job that allows me to reduce or increase my hours based on my workload at uni, so I'm really really happy.
Hi! I'll be starting my Open University studies this October, and I found your video when I was searching for other people who're studying there as well, and I'm so glad I did, because I feel much less alone and much less embarassed about it after watching :) I used to study at a brick university in my own country but I had to quit because of a burn out. I did 'nothing' for two years and then I found out that the Open University also does degrees for people abroad, so I signed up. I'm so very excited about it. I hope it'll be much healthier for me to take it slowly and make my own schedule. By the way I'm doing the same degree as you! I could transfer my credits so I can skip the first three modules, and I'll begin with Creative Writing in a few weeks :P I'm very excited and nervous. I'm glad it proved such a positive thing for you and your mental health. Great video!
I am very impressed that you can find the diciplin to study on your own, not everyone can do that, so its really great. I have mostly given up on my driving lessons because my mental problems, I know how to drive nut I get panicattacks by trafic. I have been trying to get a driving license for 10 years and been paying close to 3-4000 pounds and its not fun. I have felt like a failure for a while but people have been helping me realise that it doesnt make me a horrible person to not be able to drive. Everyone have different circumstances and you can never compare yourself to others. Open University sounds great by the way and Im happy for you!
My mental illness is so strange. I don't have social anxiety, I'm actually quite outgoing. It's changes, big and small, that overwhelm me tremendously. Big commitments scare me a lot, such as jobs and school. I decided to go to a community college instead of a university because I am so afraid of being alone and having so much expected of me at a university. I've only been at the community college for 2 weeks now but I gave myself a course load that I KNEW I could handle and it has actually been great. High school was so difficult to endure and there were so many classes and standards and expectations and cliques and drama and it overwhelmed me to the point where I was having extreme panic attacks at least 1-2 times a week near the end.
I totally agree with the pressure to get to the "finish line" against people in my year group. I didn't get any prestigious uni offers and ended up going to a small college. I'm someone who doesn't like big environments, has social anxiety and difficulty concentrating, I'm quite happy where I am and am doing well. ^_^ [edit for grammar]
Genuinely needed this as I am struggling horribly with my depression and anxiety while doing college from home and this is so important. I can't handle going to school, I barely can handle my part-time job, and I always feel like a failure because all my friends have graduated college already and many are going to get their masters but like you said my mental health is far more important. Just needed to let you know that I have favorited this video for whenever I am feeling shit about my mental health and school. xoxo
Thankyou Claudia! I have just transfered to OU for my final year (BA Open degree in Childhood and Youth). I tranfered before I had to leave Winchester half way through my second year due to anxiety and depression. I wen back for semester 2 after a year off and my problems came back. I this video has just made me feel better about the whole process of Open University, as no one has done OU in my family before, or anyone I know. Again, thankyou so much! And good luck with this year :)
Very inspiring. I've worked with a lot of people diagnosed with BPD and I've found that many of them felt that their diagnosis meant that they'ed never be able to be part of society or amount to anything professionally or academically. That's clearly not the case and you've a perfect example of perseverance. I'm really impressed by you and I'm sure your family are extremely proud.
I decided for ou just because of same thing.... I felt like I am listening about myself.... weird and I have goose bumbs. I wanted to go for English to be able to work remotely by phone as interpreter.... I will cut my face if I have to go to normal work. I am at home from 15 month really. Going outside only with someone and still with pain. Alone I was outside this past more than year.... maybe 5x max.
You inspire me so much! I also have anxiety but it doesn't affect me the same way, there are just moments where I just get a feel of inescapable doom (yeah I'm totally chill like that), usually at night. This year, I am doing something scary, and moving abroad as an au pair to prepare myself to go to university abroad. I hope that I can be strong enough. Your videos are great, and I just love watching your videos (I love your accent as well). Thank you so much, and best of luck for the rest of your studies, I'm sure that you will succeed as you seem so passionate and honest.
This video gave me so much hope. I'm starting sixth form this year and really struggled with year 11. My mum has raised concerns that I won't be able to manage uni and says I should consider other options but I like studying and it gives me something to focus on, mainly I would struggle with the social aspect as I have social anxiety and panic attacks, but if things have not improved a hell of a lot with my mental health by the time I start looking at universities I think I'll look into this as an option.
I have BPD too... started at a 'normal' uni and dropped out after first year. Now, 4 years later I am considering studying at the OU but really undecided. It's nice to hear from someone in a similar situation. Thanks xx
I went to grammar school too and dropped out due to mental illness and a disease being caused by it, I ended up dropping out at the start of Year 11 and I missed both GCSEs and A Level. I can't handle being on my own and I can't go out without one of my parents or I just break down. Some days my mental illness still causes me a struggle despite mostly being at home all of the time. It becomes worse as I feel that I don't have any direction, and hearing you say so many things that I thought the same way about really helped me understand. I'm really unsure of what to do because I'm 16 and currently at a college but all I do is sit around all day and have panic attacks like I've always done, I'm not doing anything and I'd much rather be working hard from home at something I could study, but I don't think I have that option. This video was recommended to me and it really made so much sense, thank you.
This is amazing! I wish I heard about this earlier to be honest. I'm someone who is suffering with schizophrenia for 8 years (I'm 18 now). I just want to say that you're really brave with what you are going through, you are strong and you are loved. I do look up to you a lot. Good luck in your studies, I am also starting university this week actually. So I guess I'm pretty terrified but this video helped me a bit. So thank you ❤
I'm so glad that you've found a course that works for you! I think another advantage of studying from home is price (at least in the US) as it tends to be less expensive than attending in person (even if you don't live on campus)
Well done to you!! This totally speaks to me! I have a bachelors degree already which I got 5 years ago from a brick uni and have thought for a while about doing a masters! This year in May I had my first of now many panic attacks! My life has turned completely upside down and my confidence has been knocked and I knew that heading to an actual uni again was not going to work for me. I am now registered with the Open Uni to start my masters in October and I'm genuinely so excited!!
I'm so happy you made this video, I had an extremely hard time at school and college and the open university completely saved me from feeling 'less than' everyone else. I've just got my module books for my second year and I'm super excited!
I truly appreciate you making this.. only now looking at uni after doing multiple college courses... lost motivation to push myself for a long time since my mental health was and still can be so bad. I want to truly focus on study if I am going to do so... A video like this really makes it easier to consider. now I just have to choose what I could study.... too broad a spectrum
Hey Claudi, I just wanted to say that you seem to be really happy at the moment and it's so great to see! Your relationship with Dan reminds me a lot of me and my sister - without boosting his ego too much, more videos with both of you would be great ;) You seem to really bring out the best in each other and I've really enjoyed laughing along with you. While I personally don't have mental health issues, I love watching your videos to see things from a different perspective and understand how I can help those who do. On that line, I was wondering if you could make a video suggesting/explaining ways to help someone who has depression. Someone close to me has recently been diagnosed (which I'm sure you'll know is a big step already) and I'd really like to know how I can support them through it, particularly on those down days. You always have really insightful things to say, so I'd really appreciate your advice! Other than that, I'm glad your studies are going well and that you're feeling very positive at the moment - stay golden Claudi!
Love this! So happy for you for having done well on your first year! I actually started to same course at the same time as you (we became friends on fb through the group haha), but unfortunately had a really bad mental breakdown in December and couldn't keep up with it anymore. But OU is such a great way to expand your qualifications and I'm hoping to get back into in 2018 ♡
I know this has nothing to do with this but when Claudia said about writing for soaps it reminded me that my form teacher wrote for Corrie and Emmerdale
I really like your outfit. Also I think the race element does not just apply to people with mental disorders or physical disability. I used to feel this way a lot because I made a gap year. But people in my year are all my age, pretty much down to the year of birth. I also struggle with anxiety and panic attacks (hmm so maybe I am a mental illness case too when it comes to the above part) and I can kinda not understand why you just always end up going home. I mean yeah I feel that too but sometimes it is not an option and generally I have learned through that, that pulling through a panic attack is better than quiting everything. Also I have started using the headspace app and meditation which basically helps me to snap out of very very panicky situations within minutes. Generally I am glad that you seem to be doing so well with your issues. Keep going.
I’m so proud of you!!! :D and you are absolutely right that it is no less fancy than going to a “real” university. Hell, people studying their Masters and PhDs do mostly independent study and just check in with their professors. I want to get a second degree in Math and am also recovering from severe mental health issues and have stopped doing everything for a long time too. I totally get how it affects your self esteem and can make you feel worthless or just lazy, but it doesn’t make you any less smart or driven at all. I am interested in studying from home , at least for the first semester/year of my degree, and hope I can space it out a lot. Do they have math courses? Is it hard to be accepted? Thank you so much for posting this!!!!
I really appreciate your sharing your story. It is important for people to know there are other options. Also just did my driving test in the US, I will be sending you many good thoughts.
I also want you to know that I was homeschooled(I could talk a lot about good homeschooling and bad and the pros and cons) but it was great for me and there is a stigma to that. I also did go to a university at a physical location but I lived at home for all 4 years and there was a lot of pressure to live on campus and at this university, there was a lot of stigma towards commuter students. Commuter students were more likely to drop out, got poorer grades, and were not as involved. It is interesting to consider what we think about university and how we structure what is the "correct" way to be a uni student. Even still I feel judged for still living at home with my parents while I am trying to work to a)pay of student loans and b) save up for/go to grad-school.
I am going to Durham university this September and I'm so worried my mental health will spiral again...I've already had mental illness cause me to drop out of A levels twice.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I’m starting the AA100 in Feb 18 and am so nervous, since I’m 37 and it’s been 19 years since i left school. Your video has definitely helped to boost my confidence and make me more excited for the challenge ahead :)
Hi there Claudia. It's so good to see you thrive - you really do seem happier and healthier and as someone who has been following you for years (since that video of yours about Sansa Stark was retweeted by Sophie Turner I think!) it's really heartwarming to see you do well and cope with your struggle, especially as someone with a lot of mental illness issues too. I am researching the topic of studying from home (I dropped out of medical school last year bc of my rubbish mental health :/), and I was wondering if this university you speak of only takes UK residents or also people from the rest of Europe?
not to be too invasive but I'm hugging you through my laptop bc I'm in almost exactly the same situation as you and the same age and I admire you so much thank you Claudia
Hi Claudia, you said nobody asked you to do this video but I think I have with sheer mental energy haha I have started considering doing a course with them a few days ago (in fact, the same exact course you do!! ) so I searched on Yuotube 'open university' hoping that a video of yours woud come up, and it didn't, so I went on your Twitter to find evidence of the fact you were studying with them and I didn't, so I was almost starting to think I'd made it up + sending you a message to ask about your exeperience and the next day you posted this video :P Thank you, I liked how positive you are about it and it's very informative, you're tempting me even more to just go ahead and apply with them :)
This made me feel so happy because I am thinking about studying with Open University. With my mental health, I want to keep learning but the environment really intimidates me
I noticed right away that you weren't wearing your Anne Boleyn necklace aha. Hope you're doing okay, it's the worst not being able to do the things you like, stay strong x I study at Teesside University, I travel 3 hours a day to get there and home because I just can't stay away from home. First few months were okay, I'm there to impress my family like you. My attendance got really low but they (the university) didn't really bother me about it. Many times id skip and leave the house for a while so my family would believe that I'm at uni but I'm actually sitting for hours alone in a park or something. Sometimes I just can't go to university.
Thanks for the video! I'm not affected personally but my little sister has BPD as well and was yesterday deemed "unfit" to work in the social sector and she had to quit her voluntary service year she just had begun in the Kindergarten.. (we live in Germany). I'm so mad at this attitude that if you're not able to work 40 hrs / week, you can't contribute... Like what?? I'm glad you are having such a good time at uni. I'll think about showing your channel to my sister 😊
Thank you so much for this, I do have questions. My fear with open university is that without structure i'll just keep on sleeping all day everyday. I relate so much to the description of past you and still tried regular uni twice and broke down everytime and got sent to hospitals. Maybe I'm not just "there" yet and should be patient or something but anyway my question basically is how do keep motivated or got energy to study?
I have extremely bad anxiety when it comes to school like environments especially. I had to get pulled out and do homeschool instead which I started doing for my a levels. I heard that the open university have end of module assessments and exams for different parts of some courses and that home examinations are a possible option for some who fit the criteria for it, I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what this criteria could be?
I've been thinking about studying with OU, like only an access course at first but like I think I want to but idk. I had to drop out of sixthform because I was just not coping with it at all and like I had less than 50% attendance and it was just like really bad even after dropping subjects to try and carry on I just couldn't, if I had managed to like not mess up I would be like done with sixthform by now but :/
This is why I love creative writing and self study. There are some classes I never took in school because I was afraid of poor marks. Like I've taken every science there is, except for physics. (I had to do chemistry which was another nightmare given algebra is the only math I really suck at.) Now I've learned a lot about physics that I feel I wouldn't have learned if my books didn't go there. Now instead of having to learn things that don't interest me, I can just skip to the parts that do, and there isn't this fear that I'm going to fail. I can go at my own pace and ask people questions, so I've oddly learned how to love physics that way. It's so amazing how much you learn when there isn't this pressure to be perfect behind it. (I have a queer brain(in both ways lol), it's a language disability that they generalized as that, since there isn't a name for it. XD I basically don't associate letters with sounds that well, which is ok in English since it's my native language, but it made it impossible for me to learn another language. Which is a great thing to discover about yourself trying to pass a language required class in college. >.> But sometimes we cover things up too well, that other people don't notice when we're struggling. For me, I understood all the classes I had as a kid except for spelling. I remember how I had to memorize everything over and over again (which should have been a clue I had a different brain) but then after I'd just avoid those kinds of classes so it never reflected in doing poorly in my grades. So yeah, you lean later that it's ok to be different, and after to not be afraid of things.) I don't know why, but for me, sharing this in small ways has helped me accept that part of me that made me, me... sorry if I got a bit too personal. >.< When you're diagnosed with things later on in life, accepting it, not going to lie, your ego can get in the way a bit. At least mine had and it made me feel less than what I was. But you learn later on, that you did amazing so you shouldn't be down on yourself over it. In fact you learned with an added weight on you, so that makes you extra amazing. ^_^
I know you're ages away from "proper job" time but just some suggestions from someone with a very similar history/background: English is a great degree for people who need or want to work from home, or semi-from home. I would suggest after this degree taking a short course in computer stuff. You could do another from OU or just use some free things online (I really recommend khan academy) because if you can write and code basically any site will love you and there are tons of remote/distance jobs for web writers.
I think if I could move away and get a job, I would've considered OU for my degree - this first year of uni's been v. up and down. But for me personally, with regards to my home situation, there are more pros for "proper" uni than OU. Like I would never have gotten counselling if I'd just stayed at home. Going away gives me the independence that I needed and allowed me to do things my own way without the pressure from my parents, who don't get mental health problems (mine isn't even that bad) - it's kind of given me what OU seems to have given you. It's been scary and I haven't made a single friend yet, but I don't think I regret it... Yet :P That being said, thanks for making me a little more knowledgeable about OU and talking about the stigma. The only experience I have of OU is my dad who spent 10 years on an undergrad in business and now brags about it :/ But you've made me rethink it! :)
I'm enrolled in a postgraduate course at OU for this upcoming fall, and my only fear is about exams. I'm from the United States, and I'm not bad at exams per say, but I am worried that I'll have to go to a local testing center, which is nerve-wracking. The US uni structure is very different, so I'm unsure as to what to expect. Do you know anything about the exams or what I should expect, given that I'm mostly just used to writing final papers for my courses?
You mentioned that your course has optional seminars in different areas - are these things you can drop in and out of? You're probably already aware that the best way to tackle anxiety is graded exposure i.e. gradually putting yourself in the situations that trigger anxiety starting with the least difficult and working your way up as it gets easier. I wonder if attending one of these seminars might be something you want to work up to? It may be easier once you can drive and have a car as your safe space to go back to. Or maybe you could ask if you could take a relative with you? This is not me making any demand on you as you obviously understand your own difficulties better than I do, just a suggestion that came to me as you were talking about it.
Melody Luna Owl - yes! There are many educational options in Canada. Here is a good place to start: universityadmissions.ca/open-distance-universities-in-canada/
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I just dropped out of uni and am now studying from home and I've been feeling pretty ashamed of my 'failure' at traditional uni. It's nice to see someone I respect so much doing the same thing, and I think as I study more and realise how much work it is I'm realising that I haven't actually failed and that this path is as valid as any other
ThisTinyGlitch... I started off studying at a traditional uni aswell and during my second year I faced severe health problems, one after the other. It became so difficult to study and I became very sad and depressed. I was constantly in pain and from the moment I arrived at uni, I would want to go back home. I started missing so many classes and my marks started getting affected badly. I decided to leave uni halfway through third year. I felt devastated because I really wanted to graduate with the people that I started with, and also because I really wanted to graduate from this uni too. In 2016 I applied for credit transfer at the open university and luckily It was all good. Although the open university wasn't easy in terms of workload but it made my life easy because I could study from home. They also have online lectures so even if u miss it, it's still recorded and you have access to it at any time. I graduated last month (December 2017) and I am so happy. If it wasn't for the OU I wouldn't have ever graduated. I got the degree classification that I wanted too. I worked soooooo hard for it. Also I understood the stuff they taught more at open uni than at a traditional uni. At traditional uni's the stuff they teach you isn't the stuff the assignments are based on. You have to do most of the research yourself. (I don't understand what lecturers/tutors get paid for then?) However, at open uni the stuff they teach you is exactly what the assignments will be on. Its very precise. Also they give you learning outcomes of the stuff you get marked on and what the content of ur assignment should include. This is something traditional unis don't do, so how do u know what the marker is looking for?. Would highly recommend the Open University!!
I dropped out of Uni due to mental health issues, I returned in my late 20s, I just want to say: It's NEVER too late guys. You do what you have to do now to take care of yourself. Not everybody will have the same path. It's not the end of the world if you have to take a break, or change your programme, or decide that you don't need university (plenty of people flourish and find careers they love in alternative ways). Don't compare yourself to others, find your own path.
I have mental health issues aswell. And it's really nice to hear someone say that it's okay to take your time. I also have felt like I have to keep up with all my friends and I'm not ready for half the things they're ready for🌙✨
This is an amazing story of overcoming obstacles, Claudia. It's such a blessing that online universities exist.
I studied through the OU, it's a great university. I learnt so much and It enabled me to get the job i wanted as a chemist (i studied BSc Natural Sciences). It honestly changed my life.
Orange lipstick with a yellow top are STUNNING on you Claudia!
Thanks for sharing this kind of experiences, it's so important so hear such things, you're helping me not feeling a lonely renegade, lots of love ❤
Thank you so much for making this video! It's so nice to hear about someone's experiences with the OU that are similar to mine! I too study with the OU after not being able to work after sixth form because of awful panic attacks and depression + anxiety, so finding out about the OU was a lifesaver for me. I'm now 21 and going into level 2 of my psychology BSc, plus recovering well from a very bad few years of mental illness! I'm so happy that the OU has helped you too and wish you the best of luck with it and your recovery process! :) ❤️
Claudia- YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND VIBRANT.
I really relate to what you said about the expectation of going to uni 'on time' and what is considered late. I started university at 21. I was unable to for all those years because of several suicide attempts (I have Bipolar). I was judged by family members and friends of the family for not going 'on time'. There were great expectations due to me always being branded as a 'gifted and talented child' by my schools. It was many people's opinion that I was wasting my life because of this. However it wasn't my fault, as it wasn't yours. We have mental illnesses and that is nothing to be ashamed of. There is no such thing as on time, only the right time for that person. I wouldn't have coped and probably would have killed myself if I went at 18 (I couldn't get through A levels without attempting it so I had to do an access course). A boy actually did kill himself at my cousins uni as he was so depressed for these reasons. That is why it is so important for there to be support at university and for people not to be pressured until they are truly ready.
Now I go to Kent, which is actually probably quite near you. I'm from London so I had to move away. And it was so scary! I had a hellish time in first and second year. I even attempted suicide during the summer break. Oddly my marks don't suffer that much either. But now I have friends here and I'm President of a society and things are really improving. But it took two years. I think you and everyone else who has mental health problems and manages to go to university is so incredibly brave and strong. And btw you are inspiring me for my mental health campaigns for third year ❤️
Thank you Claudia, this video actually made me cry with relief. You basically covered every worry I had about studying at OU, I'm 20 at the moment with a physical disability and mental illnesses that I currently can't get help for because of the pressure to be the "normal" child, so I'm struggling. I've already signed up and got my place and my funding, I start my first module in October and I have to get a part time job alongside it because of money issues, that's what I'm most worried about. The idea of only starting uni now is scary as hell because of that "race" you mentioned to get things done. What with moving out of my abusive mother's house onto my dad's soon and the hell fire that will rain down upon when that happens, and everything else, I was even considering doing the two modules I've got a place on and then dropping out of the course. We'll have to see about that, maybe uni isn't for me, truth be told I'm still clinging onto the idea of being the first person in a number of generations to go to uni and the pressure I've put on myself since I was a child to achieve that still lingers. I'm still concerned that I won't cope, but this did help. You can but try, and dropping out is still an option if I can't.
Hi. If you're still around on here, did you stick with your degree? How are you now?
@@alexshaw714 I'm still working on it and I'm doing much better than I was! It's been a wild two years but, overall, a good two years.
@@Eli-rf3vh Good. I'm glad you're still at it and that things are a bit better :)
that lovely yellow and the red lip look so so good on you!!
I got my entire community college degree entirely online, it took me 8-9 years and I have 0 regrets. I wasn't ready at the end of high school to go away so the ability to go online and do my entire courseload on my own timeline was freeing. Online courses have come a long way since I started so there's absolutely no reason for anyone to rag on you for taking the online route. Keep plugging away, we're all pulling for you.
I really admire you. I really, REALLY wish that I had thought about the OU when I finished my A-Levels. I've just graduated from the University of Southampton, and while it's a good university it really wasn't worth all the stress it added to my already horrendous mental health. When I was in my 2nd year at college, my Dad had a very severe accident. He almost died. How he lived is beyond me. The nurses were even in awe. He now requires 24/7 intense care in a rehabilitation home. The last six years have been hell for me since the accident. I have severe depression and anxiety. I've been self harming, and I've been having horrendous panic attacks that have left me hospitalised. I also three years ago was diagnosed with Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism. This had an even more drastic effect on my health. I've since had a total thyroidectomy which now means I'm considered Hypothyroid. My body has been through so much. I've been diagnosed with PTSD from my Dads accident as I'm his only child and I was the only one fully involved. Everything, at 17 and onwards, has been on my shoulders. It's broken me. University was the worst decision I could have made. Yes, I passed my A-Levels, and my degree with a 2:2 but it wasn't worth it. If I had been told that the OU was there for students just out of college then I would have opted for the OU. I always thought it was for "older generations". I put so much pressure on myself. I kept telling myself that even through everything with my Dad, that I could still achieve the best. That broke me. I would like to do a degree through the OU in the future, but not until I'm in a better place mentally. Like you, I have always had a fascination with Anne Boleyn. I've got an A-Level in Medieval History and one day I want to do a degree in it. Anyway, I'm finally receiving intense CBT after years of being passed around in systems. It's taken years for me to be given the help. I've asked, and asked. I've gone to various psychiatric appointments and finally they're helping me. Sorry to have gone on and on in this comment. I hope that you succeed in all that you do, but if you don't do as well as you want to then do not worry. Your efforts are incredible. You've been through, and are going through, so much. I admire you. Good luck with everything! Xx
I just want to add that my Mum and Dad are divorced - while she supported me, what I meant was that I was the one making all the decisions over his life etc due to me being his next of kin and only child :)
Thank you so much for being brave enough to post this; you are helping so many people
Nice video ,and great advice for those struggling or those who doubt that the OU offers a "real degree" when it's actually harder to get a first (or a 2:1 or 2:2) and you have to be self-motivated and do a lot of work on your own.
I've long gone past the point of caring what other people think of me (and yes, I got the "what are you doing with your life?" questions too and generally replied with "nothing 🙂" because I didn't want them to know about my mental health issues as I knew they wouldn't be understanding, so I preferred them to think of me as lazy, which was silly really but it just meant avoiding awkward discussions with people who are the type to say "But Stephen Fry has depression and look at what he's achieved! Why can't you?!").
Bleh. Anyway, I'm really sorry to hear about what you've gone and are going through. My problems occurred later in life, in my 20s, where I just wouldn't see anyone and basically spend the whole day in my room doing nothing. The only reason I don't have panic attacks is because I stupidly got addicted to prescription meds which leaves me like a zombie at times but I'm cutting down and currently studying Q62 (BSc Computing and IT), albeit it's early days. Finished TM111 in September and am studying TM112 and MU123 right now. 30 credit modules right throughout the course argh! I do always introduce myself to my tutor as soon as they contact me and tell them about my problems. Two were really understanding, not sure what the other person thinks as he didn't get back to me. And I might need to ask him for an extension for my first TMA, which isn't ideal. The female tutors seem to be a lot more understanding and like you say, all the students are really cool, all kinds of ages, backgrounds, even people from other countries study with the OU. And plenty of people also have mental health issues so it's nice to feel that you aren't completely alone otherwise I think it would feel kinda isolating.
I've made some good contacts on the WhatsApp and Facebook groups too. We of course never discuss TMA questions ;-) But it's nice to talk to people when you feel like quitting as you're getting behind (like you I have days where I lack the motivation to do anything and other days where I can study for hours on end as I genuinely enjoy the work and the challenge it provides). Like you, I'm not upset that I don't have the "social aspect" as I was never particularly social anyway, and when I was it only lead to trouble like drinking to excess.
And bang on regarding the timeframe. I don't want to say my age but in no way is 23 too late lol, otherwise I'm screwed hehe. You need to be ready to do it and it's the right path for me and certainly seems like it for you. I agree that it's good for the mental health aspect as you feel very confident when you get a good result and it makes all the studying worthwhile. Keeps your mind busy too so you don't have as much time to dwell on things.
As for employment after my degree, I'm kinda hoping I can work from home on my computer but we'll have to see about that. That feels a long way away right now, being able to go out there and work in a busy office 9-5.
Out of curiosity, are the high school teachers still sarcastic and bitter? And treat you like a child even though you're 16-18 when you're doing your A-levels? I had hoped that had changed since my days but I guess not 😞
Anyway, I'm rambling as usual. I wish you the best of luck in everything you do going forward. I hope you're making progress with your studies and more importantly with your mental health. It takes time but you seem determined. Take care of yourself 🙂
Planned to apply for Open University last year, but everything happened too late. Really thankful to have found this video, as I can relate in some ways. Really hope everything went well with your Degree, this has helped motivate me to apply 🖤
I'll likely do my postgrad through the OU I think. And I know that feeling of uni and life being a race - I took a gap year to do work and to make sure I wanted to go, and then the last 7 or 8 months of my final year were absolute mayhem for my mental and physical health. So I won't officially graduate until 2018 anyway, despite just finishing my degree work a couple of weeks ago. I'll be 23 when I graduate, but I honestly don't mind at this point. After being at uni, I know plenty of others who were studying at different stages of their lives, and some had a tougher time than I did and some didn't.
I'm just relieved that I've finished uni and likely done very well actually, and that my uni support services were so so so incredible. This was a bloody wonderful video and was a nice reassurance of the worries that were niggling away at the back of my mind.
This video came at the perfect time for me - I've been in 'normal' university for 2/3 years but after a really bad period due to my mental health where I wasn't able to attend lectures, I fell behind and failed some exams. I've just had my final attempt at these exams and since I've been playing catch-up for over a year, I might not be able to carry on if I fail. I've been looking into options and I thought that my situation meant that I couldn't carry on my degree in any way because 'normal' university won't work for me. Thank you so much for sharing, this was really insightful and a huge help in making me feel like my life isn't over lol 💕
I am really glad that it worked out for you Claudia. :3 There is absolutely nothing wrong with studying from home. I go to Uni on campus and personally I find it very draining because of my mental health. It really takes so much out of me that I wish I could study from home. And never worry about the age thing. I changed my course twice until I finally ended up doing a Journalism degree. I was 21 doing my First Year for the third time because I didn't like the other two courses I enrolled in. I am 22 now and still have one more year to finish my graduate degree. It doesn't matter at all, seriously. When it comes to Uni everyone is all over the place. Nothing to be ashamed of. I am doing Journalism but I am also doing Literature as a contextual study. I love it so much :3 :3 I wish you all the best xoxo I am sure you will do fantastic.
I resonated with a lot you said here! I was known for being a great student until Year 12 (last year) where I couldn't cope and my grades started to plummet. I made up those credits this year and am now just scraping through Year 13. All going well, I'll be doing my Diploma in Information and Library Studies next year from home through Open Polytechnic. I've gotten many a sneer from teachers and peers who don't understand my situation. Your videos (especially this one) are so reassuring to so many of us! Thankyou for everything you share.
P.S. You look so beautiful in this video.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm starting studying from home this year. I'm 30 now and I've already started and quitted chemistry. I was pretty good actually but my mental illness made it impossible for me to keep up with the schedules, especially the lab work. Organic Chemistry lab work was hard to keep up with for 'normal' students, so I was completely overwhelmed. I've stayed on for 7 years because I thought I could do it and was embarrassed. Now that I'm older and more mature, I'm starting to study IT from home and I'm very confident. I have a job that allows me to reduce or increase my hours based on my workload at uni, so I'm really really happy.
Hi! I'll be starting my Open University studies this October, and I found your video when I was searching for other people who're studying there as well, and I'm so glad I did, because I feel much less alone and much less embarassed about it after watching :) I used to study at a brick university in my own country but I had to quit because of a burn out. I did 'nothing' for two years and then I found out that the Open University also does degrees for people abroad, so I signed up. I'm so very excited about it. I hope it'll be much healthier for me to take it slowly and make my own schedule. By the way I'm doing the same degree as you! I could transfer my credits so I can skip the first three modules, and I'll begin with Creative Writing in a few weeks :P I'm very excited and nervous. I'm glad it proved such a positive thing for you and your mental health. Great video!
I am very impressed that you can find the diciplin to study on your own, not everyone can do that, so its really great. I have mostly given up on my driving lessons because my mental problems, I know how to drive nut I get panicattacks by trafic. I have been trying to get a driving license for 10 years and been paying close to 3-4000 pounds and its not fun. I have felt like a failure for a while but people have been helping me realise that it doesnt make me a horrible person to not be able to drive. Everyone have different circumstances and you can never compare yourself to others. Open University sounds great by the way and Im happy for you!
Its a sad realization, but I guess all insight is good. Hope it works out for you without the driving! :)
My mental illness is so strange. I don't have social anxiety, I'm actually quite outgoing. It's changes, big and small, that overwhelm me tremendously. Big commitments scare me a lot, such as jobs and school. I decided to go to a community college instead of a university because I am so afraid of being alone and having so much expected of me at a university. I've only been at the community college for 2 weeks now but I gave myself a course load that I KNEW I could handle and it has actually been great. High school was so difficult to endure and there were so many classes and standards and expectations and cliques and drama and it overwhelmed me to the point where I was having extreme panic attacks at least 1-2 times a week near the end.
I totally agree with the pressure to get to the "finish line" against people in my year group. I didn't get any prestigious uni offers and ended up going to a small college. I'm someone who doesn't like big environments, has social anxiety and difficulty concentrating, I'm quite happy where I am and am doing well. ^_^ [edit for grammar]
Genuinely needed this as I am struggling horribly with my depression and anxiety while doing college from home and this is so important. I can't handle going to school, I barely can handle my part-time job, and I always feel like a failure because all my friends have graduated college already and many are going to get their masters but like you said my mental health is far more important. Just needed to let you know that I have favorited this video for whenever I am feeling shit about my mental health and school. xoxo
Please can you do more OU videos? Like a study series on note taking, references ect ? I'd find that so helpful
same omg
Thankyou Claudia! I have just transfered to OU for my final year (BA Open degree in Childhood and Youth). I tranfered before I had to leave Winchester half way through my second year due to anxiety and depression. I wen back for semester 2 after a year off and my problems came back. I this video has just made me feel better about the whole process of Open University, as no one has done OU in my family before, or anyone I know. Again, thankyou so much! And good luck with this year :)
Very inspiring. I've worked with a lot of people diagnosed with BPD and I've found that many of them felt that their diagnosis meant that they'ed never be able to be part of society or amount to anything professionally or academically. That's clearly not the case and you've a perfect example of perseverance. I'm really impressed by you and I'm sure your family are extremely proud.
I decided for ou just because of same thing.... I felt like I am listening about myself.... weird and I have goose bumbs. I wanted to go for English to be able to work remotely by phone as interpreter.... I will cut my face if I have to go to normal work. I am at home from 15 month really. Going outside only with someone and still with pain. Alone I was outside this past more than year.... maybe 5x max.
You inspire me so much! I also have anxiety but it doesn't affect me the same way, there are just moments where I just get a feel of inescapable doom (yeah I'm totally chill like that), usually at night. This year, I am doing something scary, and moving abroad as an au pair to prepare myself to go to university abroad. I hope that I can be strong enough.
Your videos are great, and I just love watching your videos (I love your accent as well). Thank you so much, and best of luck for the rest of your studies, I'm sure that you will succeed as you seem so passionate and honest.
This video gave me so much hope. I'm starting sixth form this year and really struggled with year 11. My mum has raised concerns that I won't be able to manage uni and says I should consider other options but I like studying and it gives me something to focus on, mainly I would struggle with the social aspect as I have social anxiety and panic attacks, but if things have not improved a hell of a lot with my mental health by the time I start looking at universities I think I'll look into this as an option.
I have BPD too... started at a 'normal' uni and dropped out after first year. Now, 4 years later I am considering studying at the OU but really undecided. It's nice to hear from someone in a similar situation. Thanks xx
I went to grammar school too and dropped out due to mental illness and a disease being caused by it, I ended up dropping out at the start of Year 11 and I missed both GCSEs and A Level. I can't handle being on my own and I can't go out without one of my parents or I just break down. Some days my mental illness still causes me a struggle despite mostly being at home all of the time. It becomes worse as I feel that I don't have any direction, and hearing you say so many things that I thought the same way about really helped me understand. I'm really unsure of what to do because I'm 16 and currently at a college but all I do is sit around all day and have panic attacks like I've always done, I'm not doing anything and I'd much rather be working hard from home at something I could study, but I don't think I have that option. This video was recommended to me and it really made so much sense, thank you.
This is amazing! I wish I heard about this earlier to be honest. I'm someone who is suffering with schizophrenia for 8 years (I'm 18 now). I just want to say that you're really brave with what you are going through, you are strong and you are loved. I do look up to you a lot. Good luck in your studies, I am also starting university this week actually. So I guess I'm pretty terrified but this video helped me a bit. So thank you ❤
I'm so glad that you've found a course that works for you! I think another advantage of studying from home is price (at least in the US) as it tends to be less expensive than attending in person (even if you don't live on campus)
Well done to you!! This totally speaks to me! I have a bachelors degree already which I got 5 years ago from a brick uni and have thought for a while about doing a masters! This year in May I had my first of now many panic attacks! My life has turned completely upside down and my confidence has been knocked and I knew that heading to an actual uni again was not going to work for me. I am now registered with the Open Uni to start my masters in October and I'm genuinely so excited!!
Another pro: not having to spend £200 in ikea for your student accommodation like I just did
I'm so happy you made this video, I had an extremely hard time at school and college and the open university completely saved me from feeling 'less than' everyone else. I've just got my module books for my second year and I'm super excited!
Also I just switched from science to classical studies. So a rather big change:)
I truly appreciate you making this.. only now looking at uni after doing multiple college courses... lost motivation to push myself for a long time since my mental health was and still can be so bad. I want to truly focus on study if I am going to do so... A video like this really makes it easier to consider. now I just have to choose what I could study.... too broad a spectrum
Hey Claudi, I just wanted to say that you seem to be really happy at the moment and it's so great to see! Your relationship with Dan reminds me a lot of me and my sister - without boosting his ego too much, more videos with both of you would be great ;) You seem to really bring out the best in each other and I've really enjoyed laughing along with you.
While I personally don't have mental health issues, I love watching your videos to see things from a different perspective and understand how I can help those who do. On that line, I was wondering if you could make a video suggesting/explaining ways to help someone who has depression. Someone close to me has recently been diagnosed (which I'm sure you'll know is a big step already) and I'd really like to know how I can support them through it, particularly on those down days. You always have really insightful things to say, so I'd really appreciate your advice!
Other than that, I'm glad your studies are going well and that you're feeling very positive at the moment - stay golden Claudi!
Congratulations on getting a distinction!! 💗💗
Love this! So happy for you for having done well on your first year! I actually started to same course at the same time as you (we became friends on fb through the group haha), but unfortunately had a really bad mental breakdown in December and couldn't keep up with it anymore. But OU is such a great way to expand your qualifications and I'm hoping to get back into in 2018 ♡
Best of British to you. Good luck with driving and the OU.
I really needed to here all of this tonight. Thank you
I know this has nothing to do with this but when Claudia said about writing for soaps it reminded me that my form teacher wrote for Corrie and Emmerdale
I really like your outfit. Also I think the race element does not just apply to people with mental disorders or physical disability. I used to feel this way a lot because I made a gap year. But people in my year are all my age, pretty much down to the year of birth. I also struggle with anxiety and panic attacks (hmm so maybe I am a mental illness case too when it comes to the above part) and I can kinda not understand why you just always end up going home. I mean yeah I feel that too but sometimes it is not an option and generally I have learned through that, that pulling through a panic attack is better than quiting everything. Also I have started using the headspace app and meditation which basically helps me to snap out of very very panicky situations within minutes. Generally I am glad that you seem to be doing so well with your issues. Keep going.
I’m so proud of you!!! :D and you are absolutely right that it is no less fancy than going to a “real” university. Hell, people studying their Masters and PhDs do mostly independent study and just check in with their professors.
I want to get a second degree in Math and am also recovering from severe mental health issues and have stopped doing everything for a long time too. I totally get how it affects your self esteem and can make you feel worthless or just lazy, but it doesn’t make you any less smart or driven at all. I am interested in studying from home , at least for the first semester/year of my degree, and hope I can space it out a lot.
Do they have math courses?
Is it hard to be accepted?
Thank you so much for posting this!!!!
I really appreciate your sharing your story. It is important for people to know there are other options. Also just did my driving test in the US, I will be sending you many good thoughts.
I also want you to know that I was homeschooled(I could talk a lot about good homeschooling and bad and the pros and cons) but it was great for me and there is a stigma to that. I also did go to a university at a physical location but I lived at home for all 4 years and there was a lot of pressure to live on campus and at this university, there was a lot of stigma towards commuter students. Commuter students were more likely to drop out, got poorer grades, and were not as involved. It is interesting to consider what we think about university and how we structure what is the "correct" way to be a uni student. Even still I feel judged for still living at home with my parents while I am trying to work to a)pay of student loans and b) save up for/go to grad-school.
I am going to Durham university this September and I'm so worried my mental health will spiral again...I've already had mental illness cause me to drop out of A levels twice.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I’m starting the AA100 in Feb 18 and am so nervous, since I’m 37 and it’s been 19 years since i left school. Your video has definitely helped to boost my confidence and make me more excited for the challenge ahead :)
Hi there Claudia. It's so good to see you thrive - you really do seem happier and healthier and as someone who has been following you for years (since that video of yours about Sansa Stark was retweeted by Sophie Turner I think!) it's really heartwarming to see you do well and cope with your struggle, especially as someone with a lot of mental illness issues too.
I am researching the topic of studying from home (I dropped out of medical school last year bc of my rubbish mental health :/), and I was wondering if this university you speak of only takes UK residents or also people from the rest of Europe?
not to be too invasive but I'm hugging you through my laptop bc I'm in almost exactly the same situation as you and the same age and I admire you so much thank you Claudia
Hi Claudia, you said nobody asked you to do this video but I think I have with sheer mental energy haha I have started considering doing a course with them a few days ago (in fact, the same exact course you do!! ) so I searched on Yuotube 'open university' hoping that a video of yours woud come up, and it didn't, so I went on your Twitter to find evidence of the fact you were studying with them and I didn't, so I was almost starting to think I'd made it up + sending you a message to ask about your exeperience and the next day you posted this video :P Thank you, I liked how positive you are about it and it's very informative, you're tempting me even more to just go ahead and apply with them :)
fab video I've signed up with the ou due to ill health and this has made me feel better about it
This made me feel so happy because I am thinking about studying with Open University. With my mental health, I want to keep learning but the environment really intimidates me
This was really interesting :) I've always wondered what it was like to be a student at the Open University
I noticed right away that you weren't wearing your Anne Boleyn necklace aha. Hope you're doing okay, it's the worst not being able to do the things you like, stay strong x
I study at Teesside University, I travel 3 hours a day to get there and home because I just can't stay away from home. First few months were okay, I'm there to impress my family like you. My attendance got really low but they (the university) didn't really bother me about it. Many times id skip and leave the house for a while so my family would believe that I'm at uni but I'm actually sitting for hours alone in a park or something. Sometimes I just can't go to university.
Thanks for the video! I'm not affected personally but my little sister has BPD as well and was yesterday deemed "unfit" to work in the social sector and she had to quit her voluntary service year she just had begun in the Kindergarten.. (we live in Germany). I'm so mad at this attitude that if you're not able to work 40 hrs / week, you can't contribute... Like what?? I'm glad you are having such a good time at uni. I'll think about showing your channel to my sister 😊
Thank you so much for this, I do have questions. My fear with open university is that without structure i'll just keep on sleeping all day everyday. I relate so much to the description of past you and still tried regular uni twice and broke down everytime and got sent to hospitals. Maybe I'm not just "there" yet and should be patient or something but anyway my question basically is how do keep motivated or got energy to study?
English Literature with Creative Writing would be my dream - great Video! ☺
I have extremely bad anxiety when it comes to school like environments especially. I had to get pulled out and do homeschool instead which I started doing for my a levels. I heard that the open university have end of module assessments and exams for different parts of some courses and that home examinations are a possible option for some who fit the criteria for it, I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what this criteria could be?
We have so much in common... this was interesting and reassuring for me. Thank you!
I've been thinking about studying with OU, like only an access course at first but like I think I want to but idk. I had to drop out of sixthform because I was just not coping with it at all and like I had less than 50% attendance and it was just like really bad even after dropping subjects to try and carry on I just couldn't, if I had managed to like not mess up I would be like done with sixthform by now but :/
This is why I love creative writing and self study. There are some classes I never took in school because I was afraid of poor marks. Like I've taken every science there is, except for physics. (I had to do chemistry which was another nightmare given algebra is the only math I really suck at.) Now I've learned a lot about physics that I feel I wouldn't have learned if my books didn't go there. Now instead of having to learn things that don't interest me, I can just skip to the parts that do, and there isn't this fear that I'm going to fail. I can go at my own pace and ask people questions, so I've oddly learned how to love physics that way. It's so amazing how much you learn when there isn't this pressure to be perfect behind it.
(I have a queer brain(in both ways lol), it's a language disability that they generalized as that, since there isn't a name for it. XD I basically don't associate letters with sounds that well, which is ok in English since it's my native language, but it made it impossible for me to learn another language. Which is a great thing to discover about yourself trying to pass a language required class in college. >.> But sometimes we cover things up too well, that other people don't notice when we're struggling. For me, I understood all the classes I had as a kid except for spelling. I remember how I had to memorize everything over and over again (which should have been a clue I had a different brain) but then after I'd just avoid those kinds of classes so it never reflected in doing poorly in my grades. So yeah, you lean later that it's ok to be different, and after to not be afraid of things.) I don't know why, but for me, sharing this in small ways has helped me accept that part of me that made me, me... sorry if I got a bit too personal. >.< When you're diagnosed with things later on in life, accepting it, not going to lie, your ego can get in the way a bit. At least mine had and it made me feel less than what I was. But you learn later on, that you did amazing so you shouldn't be down on yourself over it. In fact you learned with an added weight on you, so that makes you extra amazing. ^_^
Try MCT oil and fish oil widely helpful in all sorts of mental problems particularly ADHD.
I'm just starting a degree with the OU after having a really bad reaction to starting at a brick university last year. Wish you all the best
Hi I also have a mental disability and also dyslexia. I'm in my final year at the Open Uni which I'm doing the advance creative writing.
I know you're ages away from "proper job" time but just some suggestions from someone with a very similar history/background: English is a great degree for people who need or want to work from home, or semi-from home. I would suggest after this degree taking a short course in computer stuff. You could do another from OU or just use some free things online (I really recommend khan academy) because if you can write and code basically any site will love you and there are tons of remote/distance jobs for web writers.
I think if I could move away and get a job, I would've considered OU for my degree - this first year of uni's been v. up and down. But for me personally, with regards to my home situation, there are more pros for "proper" uni than OU. Like I would never have gotten counselling if I'd just stayed at home. Going away gives me the independence that I needed and allowed me to do things my own way without the pressure from my parents, who don't get mental health problems (mine isn't even that bad) - it's kind of given me what OU seems to have given you. It's been scary and I haven't made a single friend yet, but I don't think I regret it... Yet :P
That being said, thanks for making me a little more knowledgeable about OU and talking about the stigma. The only experience I have of OU is my dad who spent 10 years on an undergrad in business and now brags about it :/ But you've made me rethink it! :)
How many hours a week do you spend studying?
Thanks. :)
I really love your dress/top! (Yellow is my favourite colour) Where did you get it from?
I'm enrolled in a postgraduate course at OU for this upcoming fall, and my only fear is about exams. I'm from the United States, and I'm not bad at exams per say, but I am worried that I'll have to go to a local testing center, which is nerve-wracking. The US uni structure is very different, so I'm unsure as to what to expect. Do you know anything about the exams or what I should expect, given that I'm mostly just used to writing final papers for my courses?
is anyone studying health and social care ?
You mentioned that your course has optional seminars in different areas - are these things you can drop in and out of? You're probably already aware that the best way to tackle anxiety is graded exposure i.e. gradually putting yourself in the situations that trigger anxiety starting with the least difficult and working your way up as it gets easier. I wonder if attending one of these seminars might be something you want to work up to? It may be easier once you can drive and have a car as your safe space to go back to. Or maybe you could ask if you could take a relative with you? This is not me making any demand on you as you obviously understand your own difficulties better than I do, just a suggestion that came to me as you were talking about it.
What do you do now?
You're always pretty, be you all made/dressed up or not
Thank you
Is there an equivalent of this in Canada?
Melody Luna Owl - yes! There are many educational options in Canada. Here is a good place to start:
universityadmissions.ca/open-distance-universities-in-canada/
How and when did you get diagnosed with borderline personality disorder?
I'm terrified of women, thank you for sharing your experience.
For those of us from 'cross the pond: What's grammer school?
theuniversejumper Something between state and private schools. There free but you need to pass hard tests to get in
Oh, ok. Thanks!
I'm from the US and I dunno what 6 form is. Is it essentially Senior year in high school?
It's the last two years of school before university, so typically students are aged 16-18.
DVDs?! Bruh, this ain't 2007!
Nice
I'm doing a natural science degree through the OU! It's great!
💙👏🏻
Irrelevant comment; love your top!
You should face your fears