I taught my first lesson today at the University and it went really well.

I don’t often think about how far I’ve come since starting my undergraduate degree 7 years back. I’ve got so comfortable with what I do now that I forget all the many, many, steps it took for me to get here.

I went back to education as a “mature student” whilst still running a social group for disabled young people. I worked whilst studying full time, except in the last year when the UK was in lockdown. Whilst work, uni and the world were in disarray, I achieved a First.

I went straight to masters and got pregnant three months into my course. I was pregnant in the first year and had a small baby in the second year whilst the pandemic raged on. I worked, did my course, made and looked after my son. I got a distinction and started working as a researcher in the voluntary sector.

I was then awarded a funded PhD studentship. I’ve been doing that for the last 1.5 years and I’m super happy with what I’ve done so far and the work I have laid out ahead of me.

I’ve published a lot – papers, chapters and various research reports and I’ve now got a flavour for zines. I’ve got more publications coming out this year.

During my university journey, we have lost two family members, and my mum donated her kidney to my brother. It’s been a lot.

I just wanted to put all of this ‘out there’ somewhere to appreciate that I didn’t start off confident and competent. I started off tentatively, I started off by feeling my way, by taking opportunities, by quieting the naysayers (including those I still have in my mind). I worked on myself, I took skills I learnt from gritting my teeth through retail, through the long days working at nurseries. I took an unhappy and listless life and made it meaningful.

I’m pleased I took chances, I’m glad I felt the anxiety and turned it into excitement, I’m proud I went into a class today and shared a little bit of the magic research has given me.