Working on the Access course enabled me to figure out how to study again. It helped me to develop my own strategies and techniques, and to take responsibility for my own learning which is something that is invaluable when you’re at medical school. The course is designed to be taught to adults, and I think that really helps because when you’re returning to education you learn in a different way, initially at least.

I didn’t have much confidence when I started the Access course. I didn’t know if I would have the capacity to learn. Studying at Stafford, where the education was tailored toward adult learners, gave me a real confidence boost. The course gives you the confidence that you do have the capability and the capacity to come onto an incredibly complex degree course and do well.

You’ll find once you get to university, you’re actually fine, you are able to keep up, and all the things you were worried about before don’t really matter anymore.

And what you’ve done is you have empowered yourself, you’ve given yourself that opportunity to completely change the way that your life and your family’s lives are going to be henceforth.

That’s an incredibly brave thing to do, but it’s also incredibly important, and hugely empowering. So I would say go for it!