Marvin Fishley gives us a personal look into his journey from working as a carer to becoming a Criminology and Law graduate
Date: 06 August 2019
More than 1300 London Met students gathered at the Barbican, London, for their graduation ceremonies earlier this week. In our Graduate Stories series, we share a selection of their stories and find out what they plan to do next.
---
For two years I worked as a Health Care Assistant and Support Worker for Bupa and Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in London respectively. The main aspect of my job was caring for vulnerable people with dementia, respiratory and brain damage illnesses. As tough as it was, I found my experience to be incredibly rewarding.
During that time, I had been playing with the idea of getting back into education. I sorted out my UCAS application and got a few offers from different universities - including one to study Criminology and Law BA at London Metropolitan University.
Culturally diverse
As soon as I arrived I could see that the University was a great place to study. I realised that this institution had something different from the others; it didn’t just cater to one set of people but rather to all people.
My time over the last three years, much like my work as a carer, has been very challenging both mentally and physically, but ultimately supremely rewarding.
I had to work full-time while I studied, juggling both coursework and assignment deadlines, whilst also being a Student Rep and a presenter on Verve Radio, created by the Students’ Union. Apart from all that, I was also actively involved in ministerial duties both at my local church as well as performing at many events across the country.
I am a big believer in hard work producing good things and I saw it through, gaining many new skills and experiences throughout the last three years.
‘He went above and beyond’
When I look back on my time here, I can see how much of an impact my lecturers have had on my life, in the most positive way.
At the end of the first semester in my final year, I got the results back for an assignment. My grade didn’t reflect my true ability and it upset me. My lecturer, James Alexander, also felt the same way.
With the grades published, James asked to have a meeting with me to discuss the grade I was given. He gave me a chance, in a safe space, to explain what might have gone wrong. It was at that moment I realised there were other things going on outside of the University, affecting my studies, and I opened up about these issues to him.
James then went above and beyond to do all he could to my grades back on track for the all-important final year, and it's clear he helped me overcome my personal obstacles, as I graduated with a 2:1.
‘All who come here can achieve great things’
After graduation, I will be staying on at London Met to do my Master’s in September, studying Organised Crime and Global Security.
One of the main reasons for staying here and doing my postgrad is down to the relationship I have built up with my lecturers. It’s easy for me now to trust their guidance as I continue to learn more and more.
The other main reason is that I know more still needs to be done to get the word out about how good London Met is as a University, as people still seem look down upon it.
It makes me sad, but I feel as though all graduates have a duty to show others considering studying at London Met that, just like we have now done, all who come here can achieve great things no matter where they come from.
All I can say to those who are considering studying, or currently studying, at London Met is to not allow any obstacles or circumstances to deter you from fulfilling your purpose in life. Do not fear the word ‘no’, but be afraid of the possibility of a ‘yes’ that you have prematurely destroyed because you decided to quit.
So never quit despite what you might have faced or will face during your time at London Met because, as for me, I have had those moments of situations that rocked me during my times but with the help of the University, I was destined to overcome and fulfil my purpose despite my scars.
Today, I am a testament of one who triumphed and who is still going forward in achieving their goals because there is purpose behind my scars.
