Anthony's story

“I have never been awarded anything so to be graduating with a first-class honours degree still doesn’t feel real. I had been out of education for over 15 years and decided to focus on myself and do something that I’ve always wanted to do in a subject that was of real interest to me”, comments Anthony.

To gain a place at university, Anthony took the decision to go back to college and study an access course before going on to his degree. Initially feeling that he didn’t make the right choice of programme, Hope was able to support Anthony in switching to a subject that he then excelled in.

“I am passionate about the subject area and want to make a difference in whatever line of work I go into. I have an interest in subject areas centred around racial inequality and social economics and I chose to do a degree so I could understand those topics from an academic standpoint. This opportunity came just at the right time in my life”.

During his early assignments, Anthony’s lecturers recognised that he may be facing challenges in his learning and he did receive a diagnosis for dyslexia, offering a sense of clarity for the first time in his life.

Anthony said: “I have always struggled in a learning setting and found it hard to pay attention at school but the staff at Hope worked hard to put in certain adjustments for me. I had turned my back on education and wrote it off as something that was definitely not for me. In fact, I would say that I had real distain towards education. But now, I can see that it was all about my relationship with learning, and now I have experienced a setting where I am understood and supported, I am thriving. I have a passion for knowledge and always want to learn more. It has provided me with skills I never thought I was capable of having.”

“My lecturers were all so supportive and made me see the qualities in myself that I couldn’t see before. They have completely changed my way of thinking. To be graduating with a first-class degree is just unbelievable. This was never an opportunity that I thought would be afforded to me, especially as a mature student. It has improved my confidence and I feel equipped to apply my academic understanding in real life. I was immensely supported throughout the whole process, especially with the struggles that I have faced around my dyslexia, juggling work with education and my personal wellbeing. My lecturers believed in me and saw something in me. They saw what I was capable of.”

On his advice to students currently studying or thinking of undertaking a degree, Anthony added, “You do have to dig deep and find the motivation if you want to succeed. It takes a lot but I used all of the resources and support available to me including the University’s wellbeing services. This helped me to achieve balance in my studies and personal life.”

Looking ahead, Anthony aspires to work with people and help make a difference in their lives, saying, “This degree has opened up opportunities that were not there before. I didn’t have any opportunities and my prospects were bleak but now I am excited to shape a career and implement the skills I have learnt. To get to this point has taken years of hard work and I am proud to call myself a graduate.”