This International Women's Day, we’re celebrating strong women like Jade Reid, who have overcome major barriers in pursuit of their education to #PressforProgress.
Arden University is committed to making education accessible and available to all. In honour of International Women’s Day (March 8th), we’re celebrating strong women, like Jade Reid, who have overcome major barriers in pursuit of their education to #PressforProgress.
Whether that’s financial commitments, personal issues or family constraints, Arden has the necessary support in place to help students, like Jade, achieve their potential.
Jade, 28, is currently studying for a foundation Business Degree at Arden University. Originally from Glasgow, Jade now lives in Manchester and visits Arden’s study centre two days a week.
She said: “My journey began four years ago, when I decided to make a change and started going to college in Stockport. I realised I had the confidence and strength to continue studying, despite a very tricky upbringing, addicted to drugs and being homeless for a while.
“I have experienced many challenges throughout my life and have overcome them all. The road to recovery is a long one, but I’ve been clean for four years now and since being at Arden, I have realised that I can achieve my goals, and that I can move forward and have a career.
“Blended learning is ideal because I am a single parent with a seven-year-old child, so when I’m not at university, I’m a mum. When my little boy goes to bed, that’s my time to study and use iLearn to catch up in the comfort of my own home. Luckily, I have a lot of support in my life and coming to a university that isn’t as loud and as big as other university’s is perfect. Each student receives a lot of independent time and support from the tutor and that helps to put me at ease and gives me the confidence to ask questions.
“I never thought it would be possible for me to achieve anything; my life is basically at the very beginning. I remember one day thinking, ‘wait a minute, in the future I could be someone’, and from that moment I’ve been achieving more than I thought I ever could.”
Jade has plans to continue studying and is just one example of the many strong women out there who are pushing for progress, to help better their lives and overcome the barriers presented to them.
To see Jade’s interview in full, click here.
