Unit 3. Part 3

1. Sharon Ellis, 30, returned to learning after many years she has juggled her studies with looking after her two daughters . She also has to work round her part-time job. Over the last three years Sharon has completed a range of courses including, courses in basic maths, word processing and using the internet. Sharon says: "It was a real struggle getting started. I was terrified of trying anything new, especially learning. I've had a very isolated life and I'd lost all my motivation and self-confidence. It was on my sixth attempt that I actually had the courage to walk into the Rockingham Centre to sign up for some courses - since then I've never looked back. I've increased my confidence, improved my social skills and learnt so many things which I never imagined I would. I'm better at writing and researching information. I'm no longer daunted by numbers and it's a fantastic feeling! I plan to keep at it and hope to do some more work related courses such as using spreadsheets and databases. Taking up learning has had an enormous impact on me - it's opening so many doors and giving me the chance to do something more with my life. I'd recommend it to anyone.

2. Having left school at 16 with few qualifications, Gerard went to the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education to study English Language, English Literature and Text Processing and then got a job in a local factory. Unfortunately for Gerard he was soon made redundant and was looking for a job once more. He realised that it was time to make himself more marketable if he was to stand any chance of competing in the job market. He needed something that would set him apart from all the other people competing for the same jobs. "I needed something that would not only look good on a CV or application form but would also give me the practical skills to do the kind of job I wanted to get", he says. Gerard, who has made the most of his spare time, was determined not to let himself become one of the long term unemployed or to let his situation affect his self-esteem. He was also keen to show potential employers that he had the kind of motivation and drive that would make him a valuable employee. You can't fail to recognise Gerard's commitment, as he is an almost constant fixture at learning center spending 2-3 hours a day there, 3 times a week. Gerard's commitment is evident and didn't go unnoticed - he soon found himself a new job. He is, however, determined that his learning experience does not end there and aims to continue doing yet more courses in the evenings

3. Merle Peters has found learning about the Internet a cosmic experience. 62-year-old Merle joined her local learning centre, communicates over e-mail with her siblings and has still yet to explore the millions of web sites available over the Internet and has found hundreds giving details and information about her favourite television programme - Star Trek. For years, Merle has worked part-time, fitting jobs in around her family responsibilities. She says: "My children were never left with a latch-key - I wanted to be there for them when they came home from school, so the jobs varied. I've never wanted to stagnate - I need to keep my mind active so six years ago I decided to learn computing based on my skills as a copy typist." Park Lane College in Leeds has helped Merle achieve every qualification available in word processing and suggested she joined to learn about the Internet. She says: "I go two or three times a week for a couple of hours. There's a mix of people and we all have a laugh and a good time. There's one learner who knows about computers himself and he's always pleasant and ready to pitch in if you get stuck. He loves helping people!" Merle fits her learning around caring for her husband and seven-year old granddaughter - also a Star Trek addict. Every weekday, Merle picks her up from school and together they spend most afternoons watching Star Trek movies and surfing the 'Trekkie' sites - although she admits she's a little concerned about running up the telephone bill. "I didn't go to courses to better myself - some people can live like cabbages and never explore what's on the outside. I'm just not one of those people. I need to be doing something, whether its learning new things or pottering around in the garden. What I need to do now is learn how to search properly on the Internet - it's the key to the whole thing and how to get the most out of it"

4. Scottish rugby player Gregor Townsend chose distance learning to fit in with international rugby competitions and running his sports café. Referring to the programme as his flexible friend Townsend said, “you can study anywhere and any time which is great for me. I can balance study with my rugby commitments. And studying by video has ensured that I can study in my own time and at a pace with which I feel comfortable”.