Finding the confidence to learn again

A resident of Sparkbrook Birmingham, speaks candidly about her experience of a My Time course. Miriam has an interesting story and completing the course was a huge achievement as it was the first learning she had undertaken since leaving school in 1978.

Miriam talked about her return to learning in a positive light: ‘Initially, I was reluctant to join any class due to lack of confidence, but my sister convinced me to join along with her. My education was cut short, due to personal reasons and I always regretted this. I felt I had missed out quite a lot. My childhood dream was to be an architect and to date I feel very sad that this dream didn’t happen. I decided there were other dreams to be chased and that I deserved another chance to follow them’.

She claimed her return to learning bought her many benefits:

‘Most importantly, confidence and self belief. Living away from family and friend for most my life, I found it extremely difficult to interact with others. This became harder each year. I do feel proud of myself for sticking with the course, which I didn’t think I could do. Also, I would never have believed I could speak publicly, but I managed to do just that with not too much embarrassment ’.

Even though Miriam faced many difficulties she overcame them with the help of My Time which is the essence of the My Time Mission Statement. She discussed her barriers in full and how facing them made her feel:

My biggest difficulty was actually walking into the room and facing the other ladies in the class. I was absolutely convinced that I was going to make a fool of myself and look stupid. I had excellent support and encouragement from the group leader which helped me to face my demons and realise that I am as good and capable as everyone else. I began to question my situation and to realise that within the right help, I could change my future. ’

Miriam was asked what adult learning meant to her and she summed it up in one word:

‘Everything. I feel that I have been given a new lease of life, and that I have been given back all the chances in life that were denied to me all those years ago’.

The future now looks bright for Miriam as this is the reward for assessing her barriers and overcoming them with strength.

‘After many years of in-activity and not much hope, I now look forward to returning to the hobbies and activities that used to enjoy, such as dressmaking, baking, exercising and keeping fit and art. I also look forward to learning new things too such as computers and carpentry. I hope one day to be able to get back into work and live life too the full ’.

All in all, the course had done what it had started out to do and that was to build Self- Esteem and Confidence to enable individuals such as Miriam to get on with their social and work lives.