Week 6

From Adult Education Student to Adult Education Tutor

#AdultConversations #52weeks52speaks

Week 6 Stacey Salt

Being a Student

Do you remember that awful recession? Back in 2008?........I certainly do, 13 years ago I was 25, single parent, mortgage, car and had a job I (thought) I loved, I had worked my backside off to climb the ladder in a private sector organisation to make the best life for me and my little girl, Jasmine…October 2008 I literally felt the crash, I felt the weight of the shattered economy, failed Governments and their greed land right on top of me. I was made redundant, I relentlessly tried for other jobs - I was stopped at every opportunity because I did not have any qualifications above GCSE, the competition for jobs rose, meaning employers could use more scrutiny, their demands for an educated background increased. I was a fish out of water, I literally could not breathe. I lost everything I had worked so hard for, but the hardest and most damaging part was the guilt, the guilt I felt letting my daughter down and the inability to provide that secure future.

The next few months that followed my existence in any tangible form was disappearing - I lost my house, my car, my belongings - the shame I felt was horrendous, I fell into a deep depression, no job, no real home, no matter what I did there was just a dark cloud. Gradually I found myself in different job roles - ones that I hated but got us by. I met my husband and we had a little boy, Isaac, the shame was still though I just never felt I was over it. In 2012 a conversation with my sister changed everything, she said ‘why don’t you go to university’?...I laughed, literally - me at Uni? I am way too old.

Could I write an essay?

Could I use ‘big’ words?

Could I present and talk in front of people?

Could I actually be academic in comparison to these young ones after not being in education for 10 years?

Am I crazy thinking I can do this with 2 children and no money?

‘Yes, yes you can Stacey’ a very kind lecturer told me at my Uni interview, Dr Denis Hyams-Ssekasi - he said ‘well why not?, what makes you different from the others?’ - I will never forget that.

A few weeks later I started a Business Management degree! Scariest thing ever, when I enrolled I said to myself ‘right if I am going to do this at my age I have to get a 1st Class degree’ - sort of self-fulfilling -prophecy - THIS was my opportunity now.

So my three years started, it was the hardest thing I have ever done, but rewarding. It gave me hope, it gave me confidence and more importantly I loved it, embraced it and it became part of me. Juggling a family, constant money worries, deadlines, children getting poorly, sleepless nights, moving houses - general things that cause daily stress in an adult life. In 2014, my 2nd year of uni my husband joined the armed forces...great another pressure added. I missed some deadlines...but I spoke up. I struggled for childcare one day...I took my little boy. I had numerous meltdowns and said I am quitting so many times...but they listened. As i embarked on my final year, I became pregnant with my 3rd child, the stresses of ‘adult life’ became heavier - final year at uni, husband in Kent, 2 kids and one on the way...11th March 2015 my little boy was stillborn...Baby Jude. I thought back in 2008 the world and its issues had landed on me, this was worse and it hit me...harder than anything

And breathe…

I took some time off my studies, my lecturers understood but I felt alone, I felt shame! Then I remembered what my lecturer had said 3 years prior...I picked myself and I finished, finished my exams and dissertation. I remember typing that last word and handing it in..I cried, tears of relief, joy, pride.

Results day came...months of anticipation, self-doubt, guilt in some form...I sat shaking in the learning resource centre at Uni, waiting for the PC to load...my results appeared and there it was

MY 1st Class Business Management Degree with Honours (BAs).

The point of my experience is that...we are human, life has begun in full swing for adults battling different things everyday, no matter what is happening they have the right to inclusive education, and by that I mean an understanding that they are adults. Bad things happen in life, it is how we come out the other side, but sometimes to get to the other side interventions, community and empathy are needed, providing this is crucial to adult development - and by accepting it shows courage not weakness. Just because we are adults does not mean we don’t need support.

Being a Teacher

After my degree, and what I went through, I 100% knew I wanted to give something back, to work with others to help them believe in themselves and to achieve their goals and dreams. That is why we become teachers?

August 2015, I enrolled on the PGCE course, another year of studying will be fine? Right? Well as it goes I found out I was pregnant, I explained this at my interview for the course and I was told that studying whilst pregnant would be a struggle and perhaps I should wait? To my horror I quite bluntly said watch me not struggle. Even though I was shocked at what was said, after everything I had achieved as an adult experiencing life's ups and downs I was more determined than ever. During my teacher training I excelled in confidence, self-belief and knew I had found my vocation and where my passion lied - March 2016 my son Kasper was born and June 2016 I completed the course. At my final 1:1 with the tutor who interviewed me, the words ‘well you proved me wrong’ were said.

September 2016 I started my NQT year at Oldham College, my home town and I loved it. Part way through that year I started teaching on the Access to HE course and I felt at home, I had not so long ago been one of these students, I knew what they were facing and I knew how they were feeling, I had some idea about what may be happening outside of this classroom, life, children, money worries, wanting so much to develop to provide better futures for their children. I knew the ins and outs of all that, that some days they may not be able to afford the bus fare, or their children may become sick. They may be carers for a Mum or a Dad. They may have marriage issues or be coming out of a relationship. They may not have a laptop or computer to work at home on assignments, they may need to borrow a book. Before class they may have rushed round in the morning getting children dressed, doing the school run, waiting 45 minutes for a bus, and may just want to drink their coffee in the classroom because they hadn’t had time at home to have one...this is what life is, I knew I had experienced this.

As a teacher now, I knew that sometimes they may be late, might need a phone call, may need some further support with completing research and academic writing, they may even just need a brew. My ability to relate to the Acces class helped develop my teaching and their learning, it broke down a barrier that I wasn’t just a teacher and that I knew how hard it was as an adult student. At this time my past experiences became my strengths - they became my connection between teacher and student, being transparent with the adult classes I taught meant that they were open and honest back and spoke to me, they trusted me and they knew I was also human.

Each new academic year when I met the Access groups I would always hear what I said those 5 years back, and I would always reply in the words of my first lecturer Denis. Seeing adults thrive through one of the most pressurising and challenging times of their lives is amazing, knowing what they go through and their innate determination to excel in their development despite ‘life’ is a true inspirational journey, every adult I have taught has inspired me, it is humbling to see. Creating a community where they can do this is one of the main ingredients, as an educationalist it is imperative that inclusive teaching, learning and assessment takes place and that means life as well, both in and out of the classroom.

Never judge, never assume and always listen...I know I have been there.

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