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John Kiely
BA History
John initially heard about Birkbeck through a colleague at work:
'I've always had an interest in history, and I've long wanted to study it more formally. When I was younger, however, I found school unsatisfactory, and I left with no qualifications.
'I'd seen the adverts around saying "Birkbeck changed my life", so I decided to attend an open evening. The staff were very helpful. I applied and was invited for an interview. Even though I had no formal qualifications, I was offered a place on the BA History.'
As a dyslexic student, John found going back to education to be particularly challenging, but he was able to get the support he needed with the help of the Disability Office:
'When it came to writing essays, I didn't know where to start. So I made an appointment with the Disability Office, who advised me to apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
'The application form is long and complicated, but Mark and Steve gave me lots of advice and guidance. I was given a computer and programs, plus money to buy books and materials. I also got a tape recorder, so that I could tape lectures, store them on my computer and then play them back whenever I needed to.'
The DSA also provided John with the personal support he needed:
'With the funding, I was able to get one-to-one dyslexia support. It certainly wasn't easy and it did take a bit of time, but once I had the support it was great. In my experience, the older you get, the more difficult it is to get back in to education. But the support makes you think differently and gives you a different perspective on life. I have been able to develop my own method to evaluate the subject I'm studying. The whole process of trying to understand the subject and broaden my knowledge is now possible.'
Having finished his BA, John now has ambitions to go further:
'I thank Birkbeck so much for taking me on, even though I didn't have any qualifications - it has opened a new door for me. I've been able to fulfil my dream and achieve my goal, and now I'm hoping to go on to do an MA next year and then do a PhD after that!'
