Opening Doors to New Beginnings: My Journey Back to Education

In a recent post, I shared the pivotal moment when Deirdre Byrne, and Blenders Ireland generously offered me employment after my time at Teen Challenge UK in 2000. That gesture marked the beginning of a new chapter, but the journey didn't end there.

?Navigating life beyond Teen Challenge's protective embrace was a formidable challenge, even with unwavering faith. As life unfolded with work, marriage, fatherhood and the richness of daily living, I found a purpose in paving a way for others in need of support.

?During my time with the Assemblies of God in Ireland and then Great Britain, I had earned accreditation and became an ordained minister.

?Yet, one dream seemed beyond reach: higher education.

Reflecting on the past, I often recounted to congregations, schools and even inmates how I had aspired to law at 14, only to become a butcher's apprentice and then a convicted drug dealer by 18. Intelligence was never my shortfall—wisdom was.

?In the midst of establishing a church in my hometown, parenting, and orchestrating community events like the Arise Easterhouse gala with my wife Tracy and our church, there remained an unfulfilled potential. Tracy would gently prod, recognizing my capabilities better than I did, saying, "you are wasting yourself." Her words were not of criticism but of belief and motivation.

?The decisive moment came in the winter of 2016. Alone while Tracy visited family in Dublin, I gathered the courage to apply for the Access to Humanities course at Glasgow Kelvin College. I was ruthlessly honest about my past in my application, hoping they would reject me because of it.

They didn't.

?This course—and others like it—serve as critical lifelines for many. They are the educational equivalents of Deirdre's open door at Blenders. I intend to explore the significance of such programmes in a series of articles, detailing their impact and why they are, for some, even more crucial than employment post-rehab.

?This course, and others like it, are not just about accessing higher education degrees and qualifications. They are lifelines thrown to those of us swimming against the tide. They are affirmations that our past doesn't have to be our future.

?Not just open to former addicts or ex inmates, Access courses and the Scottish Wider Access Programme offer a route back into education for adults who, for whatever reason, want to return but lack the necessary qualifications to do so.

In the upcoming series of articles, I will share how this step back into education has dramatically shaped my life's path, how it has become a major assistance with my ongoing work in the community, and why it might be the most crucial step for many adults wondering where to go next in life. I was 47 years-old when I started at Glasgow Kelvin College, twenty years after entering rehab - but others do not have to wait so long.

?Stay tuned for stories of triumph and transformation, and learn how you can support this vital pathway to recovery and integration. I will also invite you to join me in a dialogue on how we can collectively contribute to this cause, turning advocacy into action.

?Together, we'll explore these themes, and I'll introduce you to inspiring individuals, whose journey from the depths of addiction to the heights of academic achievement exemplifies the profound impact of educational opportunities.

?As we anticipate these stories, remember that the narrative continues. Every step towards education for someone emerging from the shadows of addiction is a step toward a brighter, more hopeful future. And I'm living proof that when one door opens, it can lead to an avenue of many more.

?Join me as we affirm that new beginnings are not just possible—they're within reach.

?Read my story and its impact on preventing youth crime in the Glasgow Times.

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/23910322.do-stop-youngsters-falling-life-crime-says-pastor/