Life Change and Progression Award

Kirsty Harris left school at 14 without any qualifications, now aged 36 she has graduated from the Open University and is moving onto a master’s at Kings College, London. Kirsty and her family faced hardship after her father was made redundant from the steelworks. “Mum had to work so hard, and obviously my dad was affected by his redundancy, I worked in a chemist and took on babysitting jobs when I was 15. I think my survival instinct was kicking in.

My circumstances made it difficult to focus on school.” When her son was six months she began studying: “I joined the Open University and started doing a degree in Psychology. I felt like I was coming home. Despite not finishing school, I found I was good at this. I got a distinction on my first assignment.” Kirsty found a sense of community at university: “Suddenly, people saw value in me.” Juggling her degree studies with being a single mum wasn’t always easy, “Luckily Ollie was a good sleeper because I’d study when he slept. I’d constantly ask myself if I was doing the right thing.” Kirsty graduated last year with an honours degree in Forensic Psychology. She was offered a place on a prestigious new qualification – a Masters in Neuroscience and Mental Health with King’s College, London. “I have overcome a lot. I know I could easily have been in a different position. A lot of women that have difficult starts like mine don’t get to end up where I have.”

Her studies also enabled Kirsty to overcome issues with her son’s development: “I started noticing differences and knew early intervention was imperative to his long-term outcomes. Looking back, it was a very heavy time, I was worried how it would impact him going forward. I knew what I had to do to put him on a positive pathway. We work well as a team, me and Oliver, and he’s doing really well. I am now the person I should always have been. Learning has given me the tools to thrive, and I can now help others. It’s given me confidence and a future. I’ll forever be grateful.”

Dr Sharon Davis is a Senior Lecturer at The Open University, “Kirsty embodies lifelong learning. Throughout her studies, she has shown determination to learn and succeed. She would devour the set texts and continues to read book after book on psychology. She gained in confidence with asking and answering difficult questions and challenging thoughts and ideas in a structured and insightful way – a journey that Kirsty is continuing and developing all the time. She is a true inspiration.”