No holding back mum-of-two

Local woman graduates after five years back in the classroom

A mother-of-two is celebrating as five years of education have climaxed in her graduating from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Serena Birtwistle, from Great Harwood, has been rewarded for giving up her job in a care home and heading back into the classroom to retrain as a nurse.

The 35-year-old spent two years at Accrington College studying for her GCSEs and A levels before being persuaded to continue with a pre-registration nursing diploma at UCLan. She graduated this week with a distinction and was also awarded The Priory Hospital Nursing Award 2009. Serena is now fulfilling her ambition of being a full-time mental health nurse.

She said: “I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be where I am today. When I left school with no qualifications I didn’t envisage years later I’d be at my University graduation. I loved going to college and University was another great step. I enjoyed the academic work immensely and have made some really good friends as well.”

Serena, who has two teenagers, added: “I was worried about being one of the older ones at University but a lot of the younger students were always asking me for advice and they were a great help to me. It was a family decision for me to leave my job and go to University full-time. Ste, my partner of 20 years, and my children had to make sacrifices but they’re all so proud of what I’ve achieved. I would definitely recommend University to anybody as it really has changed my life.”

She now works at The Fountains, an independent hospital in Blackburn, which provides intensive psychiatric rehabilitation for patients with a range of mental health problems. She has now enrolled on another college course to add more qualifications to the ever growing list.

02 December 2009