Tiffany Rowlands
"It's great going to tutorials, you realise you're not doing this on your own. "
Tiffany Rowlands
- HIVE Information Officer
- MOD, Tern Hill, North Shropshire
- 42 years old
- BSc Open Degree
OU courses studied:
DD100, B215, W200, W201, D315
"I'm based at the Tern Hill barracks. I've been here for five years. I'm a civilian working in the army. I've been an army wife for about 14 years. I started with the OU while we were based in Germany, in 2000. I'd had a long-standing interest in law so I went into the local information centre on camp for some advice. I was thinking of maybe doing a law A level, but was advised I could start a foundation law course with the OU. So I got all the information and got cracking.
With the law degree you have to complete four law courses and two others. During my second year I had my first daughter and took a break from studying. I'm not the model student! I tend to have two weeks break and two weeks of cramming. Without exception the support has been fantastic.
Being based in Germany I was able to take the OU exams out there too. It's great going to tutorials, you realise you're not doing this on your own. It really helps. Being married to a soldier you're effectively a single parent so I didn't make that many tutorials when we moved back to the UK. But I always make sure I go to the last tutorial just before the exams. It's really good for revision. In between, the email support and telephone contact with tutors is fine to keep you on track. I never felt like I was missing out.
I had my graduation last year. I didn't complete a law degree in the end. I diversified and ended up with a BSc Open Degree. It was perfect for me; my life changed and I wasn' able to complete the requirements for law but I was able to change direction and still come out with a degree. I'm now considering doing another year to gain an Honours degree. The flexibility was great for me. My goal is to qualify as a legal executive. I recommend the OU all the time. Part of what I do is write survival guides for families and I regularly suggest distance learning with the OU. It just gives you such a confidence boost and sense of achievement.
Maybe I'm more disciplined than I think I am! I tend to do what I have to do in the time scale that I've got. That's why I've found it so ideal. I can put the kids to bed and then settle down with a book. But even for people who aren't super disciplined or motivated because you know what you're aiming at you will get there in the end. And if you're doing courses that interest you, you'll already be motivated as you enjoy what you're doing.
Wherever you are posted in the world, be it Brunei or the Falklands, the support is fantastic. Whatever your age, or wherever you are you can achieve what you want to. The things I have wanted to achieve haven't passed me by."
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