MDX mature students from London reveal remarkable journeys after returning to education

Three mature students from London have spoken about their challenges and successes after going back to study at Middlesex University

MDX graduate Francisca Charles Nelson, from Regent’s Park in central London, has had an extraordinary journey at Middlesex University.

Returning to education after nearly 40 years, she graduated with First Class Honours in LLB Law. At 58 years old, and as a mother of four and grandmother of six, she had last studied in the early 1980s.

Francisca joined her course late in October and had to play catch up while dealing with physical pain in her back and knee, which made studying even more challenging after such a long break. At MDX, she met with the Disability Support Allowance (DSA) team, who diagnosed her with dyslexia and dyspraxia - the latter affects her coordination and movement.

“These were disabilities I’d never known about but had my entire life,” she said. “It was a real uphill struggle, but after they identified the issues, the DSA team made things so much easier for me. Middlesex University provided me with an ergonomic chair and tools in every classroom on campus and even at home to ensure I was as comfortable as possible. This significantly helped a great deal.”

Determined to make the most of university, Francisca took on several roles while pursuing her law degree:

• Student Learning Assistant (SLA) for Tort Law
• Student Voice Leader
• Lead Student Legal Adviser at St James Legal Center (on behalf of Middlesex University)
• Pro-Bono and Employment Officer of the MDX Law Society

In addition, she achieved awards for Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Legal Education and the John Weldon Equity and Trusts Law Prize for the best overall student in Equity & Trust Law.

Francisca is returning to Middlesex to begin the LLM in Commercial Law while also preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), and hopes to qualify as a solicitor early next year.

Remarkably, on top of her coursework, she also runs a cleaning business.

“I don’t like to fail. In everything I’ve done all my life, if I set my heart on something, I’m going to get it. I tell myself to get in there and swim, as sinking is not an option. I had to keep going, keep swimming. Even when I told my tutors ‘I can’t do it,’ they encouraged me, saying I could and that I had come too far to quit. In the end, I had to immerse myself fully into the course, and I graduated with distinction. I juggled business, home, children, study, and grandchildren. At times, it felt like juggling eight balls in the air whilst making sure none dropped.”

MDX graduate Francisca Charles Nelson

And she praised her lecturers: “They were phenomenal, always pushing and encouraging me. I’m really, really happy that I chose Middlesex.”

Having lived more than 30 years in West Hampstead before moving to Regent’s Park, Francisca was also grateful to study closer to home in London. “It was much better studying in London with my family close by as my support network was very much needed. It was easier and cheaper. There are a lot of work opportunities, and it’s my home, it’s always been my home, so London was the best place to study for me.”

Businesswomen Gay Kershaw and Ann Peters, both from London, have become firm friends since their long-held interest took them on an educational journey from a foundation course to starting a degree at Middlesex University.

The two mature students have enrolled onto a BA starting in September after they met at the university on an Arts and Creative Industries Foundation course which they completed in June.

The foundation course introduced them to a wide range of artistic techniques from illustration and fine art to short animations, ceramics, printing and jewellery design, and prepared them for a degree course in a creative subject. Both will start their degrees in September: Gay is enrolled on the BA in Illustration while Ann will study for a BA in Fine Art.

Gay, (pictured above) who has worked in schools’ admissions and in her late father’s Funeral Directors’ business, had seen her three children progress through university but never thought she would do the same.

She said: “I worked all my life in roles that I have been good at but that have not necessarily made me happy. I have been passionate about art since childhood and starting my degree is something I should have done 30 years’ ago.”

Gay, from Mill Hill, left school at 16 and studied for a BTEC National Diploma in Fashion and Clothing Technology, but despite having various roles over the years her passion for art remained. She took a local art class in Mill Hill and her tutor recommended the foundation course at Middlesex.  

“It has been one of the best decisions. The course was fantastic as an introduction to university life while providing an opportunity to learn a wide range of artistic techniques, and has enabled me to produce my own portfolio of work.

“The standard of teaching was incredibly high, the tutors were passionate about their subjects, and my fellow students have been supportive. I have a business background so I know I have received value for money.”

Gay would like to focus on art full time and has given up working for the family business to study. “In future, I would like to support and teach art to older people with an emphasis on older women from minority backgrounds, and I would like to set up workshops and retreats in the Caribbean,” she said.

As well as the excellent course content and the tutors, both students found their peer group friendly and welcoming. Having studied together, Gay and Ann have become firm friends, for example.

“We realised we had a lot in common and it’s fantastic that we will be at Middlesex together from September,” said Gay.
Ann, from Archway, ran a part-time cake business while also working in a call centre and as a secretary but, like Gay, had a lifelong passion for art. After visiting open days at several universities, she chose to study at Middlesex University.

She said: “Recently I was diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) which made sense to me as I lacked confidence and would often struggle to finish things. I always felt that I'd never fully reached my potential.

“Then a friend of mine sadly passed away and I thought life was passing me by, so I made the decision to try and pursue my passion for art.”

Ann chose Middlesex to do a foundation course because she was impressed by the facilities and course content. “On an open day, I found everyone very engaging and was made to feel at home. Choosing Middlesex was the right decision for me,” she said.

On the foundation course, Ann learned a variety of artistic techniques. She particularly enjoyed the Creative London module which involved visiting museums and art galleries followed by short tasks. Students also did life drawing and later in the year there were projects in the students’ chosen field of art. One of Ann’s projects led her to explore involuntary facial expressions by means of sucking a lemon or smelling pepper, for example.

Ann is now looking forward to starting her Fine Art degree. “Eventually I would like to sell my work, and when I retire one idea is to create a community art project where local people have the opportunity to be introduced to creating art,” she said.

Find out more about Clearing at Middlesex University.