Part of the Etc.
A return to education can seem daunting - especially after years outside of the classroom.
But mum-of-two Kara Webley describes it as the best thing she has ever done.
Studying Access to Counselling at Stockton Riverside College has opened up a whole new future career path for the 42-year-old from Stockton.
About to start a foundation degree at the college in partnership with Teesside University, she has achieved far more than she ever dreamed.
“To begin with I thought I am too old for this but something in me drove me to apply,” she said. Looking back, she added: “I have loved every minute.”
Kara’s return to education came after her children had grown up. Starting out on a Nail Services course, the idea was to go on to launch her own small business.
But it was after moving on to study Complementary Therapies that Kara started to suffer with chronic fatigue.
She said: “I realised at the end of that course that I was going to struggle with the physical side of the work.”
But still keen to pursue a career that would enable her to help others, she signed up to study Access to Counselling at the college.
“I knew that I wanted to do something to help people,” she said, so this seemed the ideal solution. And she was able to fit her studies around family life and work.
She said: “The access course was really intense and there were days when I said I can’t do this but my daughter kept telling me that I could, and with the support of friends, family and the college, I have done it.”
Kara, who has dyslexia, said there was a time she would never have imagined going to university but she is now looking forward to the next challenge.
“A lot of people are put off if they have something like dyslexia but I received a great deal of support. It really helped me and now I have more confidence.”
Hoping to eventually go on to work either as a counsellor or in an advocate role supporting people with additional learning needs, Kara said: “As a mature learner I have learnt not to be afraid. It is the best thing I have ever done.”
Find out more about our full range of Access courses at: www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/access-to-higher-education/
But mum-of-two Kara Webley describes it as the best thing she has ever done.Studying Access to Counselling at Stockton Riverside College has opened up a whole new future career path for the 42-year-old from Stockton.
About to start a foundation degree at the college in partnership with Teesside University, she has achieved far more than she ever dreamed.
“To begin with I thought I am too old for this but something in me drove me to apply,” she said. Looking back, she added: “I have loved every minute.”
Kara’s return to education came after her children had grown up. Starting out on a Nail Services course, the idea was to go on to launch her own small business.
But it was after moving on to study Complementary Therapies that Kara started to suffer with chronic fatigue.
She said: “I realised at the end of that course that I was going to struggle with the physical side of the work.”But still keen to pursue a career that would enable her to help others, she signed up to study Access to Counselling at the college.
“I knew that I wanted to do something to help people,” she said, so this seemed the ideal solution. And she was able to fit her studies around family life and work.
She said: “The access course was really intense and there were days when I said I can’t do this but my daughter kept telling me that I could, and with the support of friends, family and the college, I have done it.”
Kara, who has dyslexia, said there was a time she would never have imagined going to university but she is now looking forward to the next challenge.
“A lot of people are put off if they have something like dyslexia but I received a great deal of support. It really helped me and now I have more confidence.”
Hoping to eventually go on to work either as a counsellor or in an advocate role supporting people with additional learning needs, Kara said: “As a mature learner I have learnt not to be afraid. It is the best thing I have ever done.”
Find out more about our full range of Access courses at: www.stockton.ac.uk/courses/access-to-higher-education/
