Bu and the OU (hey, that rhymes!)

Ok, I've not posted about my graduation because I have really struggled to find the words...

On Friday 22nd September I had my The Open University graduation... Of course, it was a celebration of my academic achievement, and I am exceptionally proud of that, but for me it was so much more.
 
I started my degree because I knew I wanted to reach more people and to start more communications about mental illnesses.  I wanted to make sure I was doing so responsibly and thought that getting an academic grounding would help me to help more people.  I had been inspired by Tracy, one of my closest friends and also the greatest psychologist I have ever met (and I’ve stumbled across a few!), the way she was able to help me, combined with how fascinating I found the human mind, set me on the path back into education.  What followed with the OU was an absolute game changer…

​Early in my time studying, I was asked to be in a video about baking for better mental health and how it helps me.  I spoke about my story, and about how proud I was to be working with the Depressed Cake Shop.  The video became part of the Approaches to Mental Health module, found in a few OU courses including Nursing & Healthcare and Psychology & Counselling.

Following this, I was contacted by the OU about doing a case study on me as a student, and about their 50th birthday.  To be asked to create the cake for such a special occasion was my biggest baking honour to date, and then they added to this by asking me if I would give a speech at the event – an event I later found out was live streamed globally! 
 
I’ll be honest, I stumbled here. I went back and forth on the idea as public speaking has always been absolutely terrifying for me.  At this stage, in swooped Tracy who did some incredible coaching and hypnotherapy work with me, and I toddled off to Milton Keynes, cake in arms, to face the fear.  I couldn’t have prepared myself for what a huge day it was, I remember being dumbstruck when I sitting in the auditorium and a picture of Harold Wilson (creator of the OU) came up on the screen, I then heard a man a couple of seats in front of me say “ah, there’s Dad…”.  You can see my speech here, I think it’s safe to say the nerves were still there but I did it, that day I dared greatly.   

After this I worked with the OU on a couple more videos and articles, both for the OU website and also for news channels.  World University Mental Health Day became a permanent fixture in my diary and it will stay there forever.  Of course, as we all know, the pandemic then hit, and the world was thrown into chaos.  In this time being able to create more content with the OU was an invaluable way of reaching people who may have been struggling.  We pulled together another article, and also a piece for the BBC news.  

Personally, as many of you will know, in this time my own personal life was also thrown into chaos.  My dad had been diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma and then I discovered my husband was having an affair.  At this stage, although I had to change from studying full time to studying part time while I rebuilt my life, my study became the thing I clung to for a window into the future.  Being able to change this way of studying was invaluable and it is one of the things about the OU that makes it so unique.  Being able to change my studying meant I didn’t have to quit, I could keep moving forward even if it was a little slower. 
 
I actually finished my degree in 2022, but I wasn’t able to get into a ceremony due to the backlog from the covid graduations, and that is why I had my day this year.  It’s wonderful  really, because in that year I have had another full year giving baking demos and being on stage all summer – something that I don’t know if I would have been able to do if it wasn’t for that 50th birthday speech.  

​I have written before about how my early experiences in the education system were detrimental to my wellbeing due to being in an institution that (at the time) only seemed to focus on academic achievement.  My time with the Open University showed me that there are institutions that understand and care for the wellbeing of students in order to assist their academic capability. It's pretty special when you're given hope about something like that...

So, this is why I haven’t known how to share about my OU graduation and what it meant to me, I really don’t have the words.  My experience has been life changing and I am gutted to not be an enrolled student anymore…

​I won’t be vanishing though, I will keep pestering the amazing media team to let me be involved where I can, and I am going to do all I can to be an ambassador for such an amazing organisation – the more people who know the magic of the OU the better. 

​Speaking of magic, on my graduation day I bumped into a friend from primary school… What are the odds; two people who left school in 29 years earlier, just happened to be at the same graduation ceremony!  

 I can’t sign off here without showing some love… Francesca, Chloe and Tracy, you were integral in me getting through this degree, both practically (reading my work, feeding back, and nagging me to not leave it to the last minute!), and emotionally – you are the *best* cheerleading squad.  Tracy, you got me up on that stage and it is your fault I now grab a mic at every opportunity and start to lecture talk about mental health, you are the OG game changer.  Louise, Hannah, Natalie, Emily and the rest of the media team at the OU, thank you – you took me under your wing and it has been an absolute joy, let’s find more excuses to work together, please! 
 
 If anyone fancies sponsoring me to do my Masters, just shout.  

​In the meantime… I flipping did it! 

Sending love to you all! 
Bu... xx
BSc(Hons) Soc Psych (Open) - eek! 🤣🥰

​BuBakes is committed to reducing the stigma attached to Mental Health, and personally donates 25p for every order received to MIND.  This is kindly matched by three generous supporters, meaning a £1 donation is made per order.