On starting this course I didn't realise how much of my life it would actually take up and since September I have ate, slept and breathed access but knew it would all be worth it in the end!

On my first day I was nervous, apprehensive and unsure if this was the right course for me but by the end of the first month, I knew I had made the right decision to return to Wales and start on my journey into midwifery.

The course has taught me so much about myself; at first I thought I would never complete it, as I found essay writing difficult, but as I worked through the course I realised that I could actually write a pretty good essay if I organised my time and prioritised!!

At the beginning of the course I found sociology the hardest subject to get my head around, I found it 'too fluffy' and quite boring to be honest, but as I travelled through the course I realised that the only reason I found it boring was because I didn't understand the subject - I love a good debate and a sociology class is just the place to do it! I am now confident in my ability to hold a discussion and am pleased that after a year of struggling with my confidence, I am now able to state my opinion and stand by my convictions - whether others agree or disagree!

I have also realised that I am a good listener, I have been the shoulder to cry on for a lot of people this year and have been able to be there for them; listening, advising and supporting. I would not be the person I am now if I hadn't decided to undertake this access course; it was a breath of fresh air after a year of fighting personal demons and just what I needed to do to get myself back on track.

I am please to know, that come September I will be starting my midwifery training and even though it has been a hard road to travel I cannot wait to be 'with woman'. If it wasn't for the support of friends and people in the same position as me, I would've thrown in the towel as soon as the going got tough! So I suppose I have also realised that I am not a quitter! It's been an amazing journey so far; the highest highs and lowest lows, both personally and academically, but I believe that the camaraderie between us all has, in my opinion, kept us all going!

What a year!