What our students say - Page 6

Renamed 'HALL OF FAME' by popular demand!

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Jenifer Harrison - July 2009

Studying the Access to Midwifery Diploma has been a great way for me to improve my study skills in many areas. Before starting the course, I was a full-time mother to two children. Studying from home has allowed me to spend more time with my children, as I have been able to choose when to study.

I have thoroughly enjoyed studying with the Distance Learning Centre and feel I have been encouraged and supported fully. My tutors have been both professional and understanding and always able to answer my questions quickly, which has helped my progress through the course enormously.

I can now start my degree in midwifery at Bournemouth University in September. Many thanks to all the staff at DLC, who have helped me to work towards my goal to become a midwife.

Michelle Byard - July 2009

The DLC course has enable me to follow my dream to become a paramedic after working for the ambulance service in the control centre for the last 5 years. I have a son and due to childcare and my working hours I was unable to attend a traditional college access course.

The course is hard work, and you really have to be quite dedicated to make yourself study when you know there are no deadlines as such, but it is completely worth the time and effort invested. There were times when the prospect of writing an essay after working all day is highly unappealing, but the satisfaction you gain from knowing its done is huge!

I was a little concerned about doing the course via distance learning, but I really didn't need to be, the staff at the DLC are fantastic, with weekly phone calls and very prompt replies to emails I never felt unsupported, the DLC forum is great too and it's reassuring to know that other students are experiencing the same highs and lows as you. Reading success stories of those who have started university is really inspiring.

Thanks you all at the DLC for the support and encouragement you have shown to me over the last 9 months, I wouldn't be here without you all!

Starting FdSc Paramedic Science at University of West England in September 2009.

Donna Davis - July 2009

Whilst surfing the net to find if there was such a thing as a distance learning course for midwifery I was pleasantly surprised to find that such a thing existed. As soon as I found the DLC website I instantly made inquiries to the admin tutor and was glad to know that this was not a hoax, this is a real course for people who would like to do an access course and is ideal for those who want to study Midwifery and not just a science based access course. Within a month of finding the website I had started my midwifery access course.

The university that I really wanted to go to stated that I needed to gain 60 level 3 credits to get onto their midwifery programme. At first I panicked and was stressed out and thought the worse, but after talking to my tutor was pleased to know that studying with the DLC enabled me to not only just get the standard 45 level 3 credits, but also any more additional credits that I needed. I liked the idea that I was able to have a choice of what modules I wanted to study and did not have to stick to a set structure. The fact that I needed to get more credits meant that I needed to do a lot more work than most who will study with the DLC. It was a daunting idea for me at first and I did not think I was able to do it in time, but speaking to my family and tutor reassured me and pulled me back to reality. This gave me the motivation and fire that I needed for me to get the work done.

Now that I have finished and passed my course, it feels weird to not do anything, which I know and am sure will all change as soon as September comes.

Lisa Elwell - July 2009

My name is Lisa; I'm married with 3 children. My ambition has always been to become a Midwife.

About 3 years ago I decided that the time was right to embark upon my journey so I undertook a couple of Open University courses that I thought would put me in a better position. However, whilst these courses were enjoyable and increased my chances of obtaining a place at University, they did not offer a course that covered maths, as this was something that I need to achieve. I didn't relish the thought of undertaking a GCSE in maths and as I was unable to attend college at that time I searched the internet for an access course that I could study at home, this is when I came across DLC, and to my relief it was also QAA accredited.

I didn't think twice about enrolling and off the email went! Eager to get started I enrolled and started my course in May 2008.

Along the way I had my up's and down's, none more so than when I had to have an operation back in November, at this point my tutor continued to call me on a weekly basis and offer support and encourage me to continue with my studies again, whilst also showing a genuine interest in me.

In December 2008, following an interview at Wolverhampton University I was offered a place.

To sum up the DLC access course I would say it's challenging, informative and most of all enjoyable. But I would also like to thank my tutor because I feel that without her help, guidance and support I would have not continued. She's feels more like a friend than my tutor (especially as she knows how impatient I can be!!).

If you have read this and are still unsure, don't be - go for it, you have got nothing to lose but everything to gain.

Best wishes x

Nikki Maclean - May 2009

I hadn't studied for nearly 12 years when I started the course. I have really gained confidence and feel prepared for my midwifery degree.

I have found the course to be perfect for me. I have 2 small children and wanted to be at home with them before I went to uni, so it fitted into my life perfectly.It was also a good option for me financially, being able to pay monthly.

I have a place to study midwifery at the University of Cumbria and I would definitely recommend DLC, especially if you have work or family commitments. Brilliant Thanks. Nikki.xx

Traci Parletti - January 2009

I started the access course in December 2007 after being unable to enrol in a local college until September 2008. I was not willing to wait that long and after some internet searching I came across the DLC. As a mum of 3 with a husband who works full time, I found that this course worked well as it allowed me to work at my own pace and around my family commitments.

Before I found the DLC I thought that a career in Nursing would just be my pipe dream but the support I received from my tutor was second to none, she was fantastic, always there when I needed support. I very nearly quit the course in the summer but thanks to my tutors faith in me and her encouragement I went on to pass the course in November 2008.

I now have a place at Liverpool John Moores University and will start in February 2009. I am proud of my achievements so far and now realise that my dream will become reality with my newfound confidence and self belief. This course is affordable and well worth the money. Thanks again to the DLC staff and especially my tutor.

Sean Havire - November 2008

Distance Learning helped me in a way I can never fully explain. I was never able to complete anything, I give up easily. When I was 15 years old, I moved to the UK with no qualifications. I could not continue with my education so I found a job. I was stuck in the same position for a long period of time. I thought to myself, "I need to do something with my life", so I enrolled on the Access Course. To begin with things seemed hard and my tutor would always say to me, "You are doing well", and as much as I wanted to give up, I felt that maybe I should just give it a try. I passed my first assignment, and I was like "Wow I did it, but seven more to go". I was scared, but every time I spoke to my tutor she gave me the confidence and strength to keep pressing on.

For all those considering studying with the DLC, I would recommend it. You see, the importance of education is very clear. Education is the key to a successful life and it open doors wherever you go. I applied for a degree in Medical Laboratory Technology in Malaysia and the qualification was accepted without a problem. To me this Access Course did not only open doors for me in the UK, it also opened doors abroad too.

Now I can choose what I want to do with my life, which is a privilege I never had before. With that in mind I would like to thank my Tutor for the hard work she did for me, her patience and most of all the time she spent trying to put me on the right track. Do not give up, live your dream. DLC is the stepping stone you need...

Tracey Griffin - July 2008

My name is Tracey and I am married with two children, 14 and 4. I decided to do an Access course but could not find one near me at my local colleges that suited me. The hours were unsociable and did not work out beneficial to me with my husbands job or around the children. After doing some research I found the DLC!! To my relief it is QAA approved and just what I was looking for and could not believe my luck. I made an enquiry and within about 3 days was up and running and on my first module. I did the Access to Midwifery course. I have always wanted to do midwifery and without the DLC I believe it would have been virtually impossible for me to realise my dream. I could not comit to 3 evenings a week at a local college, but with the DLC I could study whenever I chose to.

I applied to 3 universities and when I mentioned the Access course I was doing at interview they all seemed impressed particularly with the modules I was doing. Having now passed my Access course modules and the exam I am now due to start at Edge Hill University at Ormskirk in September 2008. Since joining the DLC and also the forum I have found the support from the tutors exceeding my expectations. I thought I would have difficulty reaching them but they were always at the end of the phone or email when I needed support. I have also made some good friends on the forum and we support each other.

Prior to joining the DLC my confidence was starting to diminish due to personal circumstances and I had the courage to just go for it and now my confidence has rocketed, knowing I can now cope with a 3 year degree in my chosen career of midwifery. This has certainly given me the confidence I never knew I had to better myself and for my family too. If anyone has considered doing an Access course the DLC is the way forward, without this access course I would have been completely lost. Thanks to my tutor for all your support.

Tolu Solaru - July 2008

It has always been my dream to study midwifery and in order to achieve this it was necessary to gain the appropriate qualifications for entry to higher education.

Working full time and being a mother of one meant that it was impossible to study through the traditional mode of learning and I had almost given up on studying until a midwifery forum directed me to the DLC.

My studies with the DLC started in September 2007 and were finally completed in July 2008. I found studying with the DLC interesting, informative, exciting and sometimes challenging. The weekly calls from my tutor and the course materials were of immeasurable help and the modules studied have improved both my academic and personal skills. There were days I just wanted to throw in the towel and walk away but the support of my family and DLC tutor coupled with the desire to succeed kept me going.

I have finally achieved the required credits needed and I cannot wait to start the midwifery course with the University of Leeds in September 2008.

Thanks to my course tutor and the other DLC staff, I could not have made it without you guys.

Keeley Abbs - July 2008

I started studying the Access to Midwifery with the DLC back in 2007 but after completing only two modules I gave up, I'm still not sure why, I just wasn't motivated enough. In September 2007 I started at a local college to do the Access course, thinking it would keep me motivated. After two months on that course I found it slow going and had not done any work at all, I also lost confidence as I was told not to apply for Midwifery because I wouldn't get in, so I gave that up.

I decided to start back with the DLC in January 2008, and this time I was determined to succeed. I had already applied to Universities for Midwifery and had interviews. After my first interview I got accepted on the Midwifery degree!

I believe getting that offer of a place and receiving help and support from my tutor kept me motivated enough to complete the Access course with the DLC! I'm now preparing to start University in September and I can't wait! I have waited a long time for this. I feel proud that I managed to pass the Access course as well as looking after my six young children!

Thanks to my tutor for all your help and support, you have been great!