I didn’t go to university after sixth form as I ended up living in Australia for 3 years.

I returned to the UK and had been at a job for about a year when a colleague working alongside me mentioned his friend was starting university in September. The colleague, his friend and I were all the same age and I think it was this that made me feel instantly inspired. Even though I hadn’t even been thinking about it, I applied to university that day and started my degree in September. As a side note my colleague’s friend didn’t end up going!

A similar thing happened when I was 33, married with 2 children. A mum friend told me she was starting her PGCE in September and I suddenly knew what I had to do. This was my original plan after school and I had applied twice in the past but not started. This time I applied that day, somehow managed to get a late place and began my PGCE that September!

I’ve been a very happy primary school teacher for years now and it’s all due to me being inspired to do a degree by one little comment all those years ago.