Entrepreneur Zara Mahon reflects on achieving the dream of having her own counselling and therapy practice, plus receiving a life-changing dyslexia diagnosis, both as a result of her Open University (OU) studies.
Zara embarked on her degree several years after leaving school, having struggled academically, and being told there she had ‘no prospects’.
Fast-forward to 2024, and Zara (31) says: “I’ve graduated with a first class honours degree in psychology with counselling. It’s now a part of who I am, part of my identity.
“It was one of my tutors at the OU who pushed for a dyslexia diagnosis for me, and that was a game changer - the puzzle piece that made all my anxiety about studying dwindle.
“I feel part of a community. I’m a graduate. After leaving secondary school with no guidance and an overlooked learning difference, I feel seen.”
Zara adds: “Studying with the OU has enhanced my employability options, from increasing my confidence to finding the courage to embark on a complete career change.
Studying with the OU has enhanced my employability options, from increasing my confidence to finding the courage to embark on a complete career change.”
“When I enrolled with the OU I worked in recruitment and had done for years.
“Now I run a private practice, Counselling & Therapy With Zara, enabled by my degree being accredited (by The British Psychological Society).
“My experience as an OU student helped get me there. I learned how to work independently while trusting the quality of work I was producing.
“The assignments and online activities with the OU built confidence with my creative skills and I went on to create content for my Instagram platform, @healing_with_zara and I am really proud of that.
“My goal was always to share knowledge that would help others.”
During her degree, Glasgow-based Zara featured on an OU podcast, Life…On Our Terms.
Learning is more than just a degree, and I fully intend to continue learning for the rest of my life. That’s come from the OU giving me a voice.”
Speaking with host Gemma Cairney, she said: “When I left school I never thought I would return to education and it was always something that I wanted to do, because I could see people that I knew were so passionate about having a degree and career.
“Part of me was always trying to push ‘oh you don’t need a degree to be successful’ and I think part of me still thinks that.
“But learning is more than just a degree, it offers so much more, and I fully intend to continue learning for the rest of my life, and that’s come from the OU giving me a voice.”
Having initially enrolled as a business student Zara shifted to psychology with counselling after completing her first year. She says, “that’s when I fell in love with studying”.
Zara gained a Certificate of Higher Education in Business Management from the three related modules she had successfully studied. Around the same time, she progressed to a management position within a year of working in the third sector.
As a support advisor at a Glasgow charity for people recovering from alcohol and substance misuse, Zara helped them to sustain employability.
She tells Gemma: “The OU has opened many doors for me already. For example, the job that I’m in at the moment would be more suitable to a psychology graduate.
“However, because I was involved with The Open University, paired with my work experience, my current employer took a chance on me and that was based on the OU having an accredited degree.”
That feeling when your degree drops through the letter box is priceless.”
On the podcast Zara shares how transferable skills from her OU studies, such as learning to write concisely, had enabled her to deliver training for service participants on filling in job applications, and this had helped people gain employment.
Being able to combine a job with working towards her qualification was a “deal breaker”, and today Zara reflects, “when it came to flexibility the OU was the best option for me”.
She says: “Studying while working is hard. Studying while running a household is tiring. Studying while planning a wedding is relentless. That feeling when your degree drops through the letter box is priceless.”
Now mum to a young baby, Zara says: “Finding a balance with studying and working all while maintaining relationships and prioritising selfcare is not easy. I would say it’s vital to find a topic that you’re passionate about.”
Such is Zara’s own passion, her longer-term goal is to embark on a PhD.
Meanwhile, to anyone about to start an OU course she advises: “If you’re looking at a course there is an interest there. Give it a go. I know there might be anxiety, a little voice in your head saying you can’t.
“Ask yourself what it would be like to walk across a stage as a graduate with an applause validating your hard work and determination.”
Photo by Kathryn Tuckerman