Sadie, 30, from East Anglia says to others who might be struggling that they should ‘be their own cheerleader’ and ‘change the narrative’
A mum of one has battled against the odds and ended up passing a degree.
Sadie French, 30, who lives in East Anglia has just passed a Criminology and Psychology Degree thanks to the support of University Studies at West Suffolk College.
She gave up a career to go back into education, initially studying on an Access to Higher Education programme before progressing onto a degree pathway.
This was her second time at the college having initially started on a health course as a teenager. First time around, life conspired against her and she ended up having to leave her home with her daughter to start again.
Gradually she was able to rebuild her confidence and through ‘therapy and healing’, Sadie continues to inspire others by her progress that culminated in her picking up a degree at the annual graduation ceremony that was held in the Bury St Edmunds cathedral.
In terms of her access course Sadie said: “It wasn’t an easy decision to go back into education. I had a good job (working in finance) and by starting a new course, I knew I would be £900.00 a month worse off. Coming out of that security net was scary but I knew it was necessary and I wanted it more than ever.
“But I was determined to make education work and give my daughter someone to look up to. I made loads of flyers and posted them around the place where I lived asking for work and off the back of that, I got a part-time job at my daughters’ school and some part-time cleaning jobs.
“My course was two days a week so with the work that I had found I was able to earn some money, support my daughter and I, go to college and be around for her.”
On completion of this course, Sadie received the Access Learner of the Year Award in 2023 and now she has received the 2026 ‘University Studies at West Suffolk College Outstanding Personal Progress Award’.
On her recent degree and award success she said: “I’ve also just completed a counselling course over the summer throwing myself into everything I can.
“My advice to others is to put one foot in front of the other. It is a risk but it was necessary and a risk I’m so glad I took.
“If no one else is going to be your cheerleader – then become your own. Change the narrative, rewrite your story. I’m a single mum from a troubled childhood and a once broken and lost young adult – people probably looked at me and thought she isn’t go to go anywhere – but I have.”
“I chose to change my narrative and rewrote my story into something beautiful and something I’m proud of.
“I’m now currently teaching at an upper school, supporting in psychology and sociology lessons and many other classes. I get to support students through 1:1 time and I’m currently developing a program for young girls along side the chaplain. Next up I’m starting a Psychology Masters in September and my plan is to become a doctor.
“After study I want to help young girls and women heal, find themselves and rewrite their own story just like mine. Then I wish to open my own practice.”
On her time at the University Studies at West Suffolk College she said: “I’ve loved it – it’s a bittersweet moment to leave with memories I’ll cherish forever.”
And on picking up her degree: “It was a surreal feeling – I didn’t think I would get this far – It was an emotional one for sure. But now I know this is just the beginning.”
