Applied Social Sciences student Zoe shares her journey from college to university and her experience studying at RGU so far as a young mum who wasn’t sure higher education was even for her.

My journey into Social Sciences

I grew up in Peterhead and finished school in 2013 having no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. I spent several years going back and forth between working and studying, passing Health and Social Care Level 6 when I was 17 but living and working in Spain when I was 18.

When I had my son in 2016, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do as I was a single parent with no clear vision of the future. I was lucky enough to spend the first couple of years solely with my son, but I knew I had to plan for when he became older and went to school, so I started on my social sciences journey in 2018.

Being out of education for several years, I was too scared to jump straight into university, so I began at North East Scotland College taking their NC Social Sciences Level 6 course. I chose to do social sciences because there was so much of it that I had an interest in and I liked that I had a choice of employment at the end of studying, rather than being tied to one thing.

I continued on there to complete an HNC but left to pursue HND Events Management. However, I only lasted there for 2 months before returning to finish my HND Social Sciences in 2021.

My time studying at RGU

I never had envisioned myself going to university as I didn’t think I was good enough, even though my college grades were pretty good. The thought of university was terrifying and it wasn’t until UCAS opened at the end of that year that I decided to apply for it. I received my conditional offer and found myself excited to attend and begin 3^rd year.

Studying at RGU has been one of the most wonderful experiences I have had. Since being here, I have received so much help from the Finance Team with my childcare and the Inclusion Centre for my Borderline Personality Disorder and Anxiety, particularly when it comes to exam panic.

I was also given a mentor to help keep myself accountable for my work as I very much struggle with that. These are things I was never aware that I could get help with, and I honestly don’t know what I was afraid of. They have so much help for advance entry students and all the lecturers really take the time to care about their students.

Since starting my studies, I have become a Class Representative for the last two years and I am now a Student Ambassador.

I’m very thankful for my time at the University and the skills RGU helped me to learn for future employment opportunities. I still have no idea where I see myself after graduation, but at least after attending RGU, I feel ready for whatever life throws at me.

Zoe Frieslick

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