Sade Quintyne

‘I dream of being named partner of a law firm – that’s what keeps me motivated’

Open University (OU) Law student Sade, 27, has big plans for the future. With savvy advice for squeezing study into a busy life, Sade shares how she manages to fit everything in and keep her eye on the prize.

A mother of two young children and NHS administrator, Sade knew that going to a campus university wasn’t going to work for her. Determined not to give up on her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer, Sade says distance learning is the perfect solution.

Planning for success

“I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until I discovered the OU that I started to believe I would actually get there,” Sade says.

The way the course material is designed means that you know exactly what you need to do, and you can put time aside to do it. When I realised the BA Law course was so manageable, I wished I’d signed up years ago.”

With so much to juggle in her life, Sade has adopted a slick approach to time-management.

“Something that really works for me is to get ahead with my studies. As soon as you get behind, everything becomes psychologically more difficult.” Sade adds, “Before a module starts, I look to see what’s coming and I start reading up on the topic. Important dates and deadlines are on my wall planner where I can always see them, so I’m always on top of it.”

Making it work

It’s rare for Sade to have long periods of time to herself, so she’s become skilful at carving out time to get her head down and study.

“Whether it’s grabbing a few hours once my kids are in bed, or using my lunch hour to do some reading, I make sure I do a minimum of an hour study each day. A little can go a long way and it helps me to keep momentum.”

Sade is philosophical about her situation and says it’s too easy to be put off by feeling you don’t have enough time.

If you wait for the perfect time to do something, you’ll never do it. Focus on where you want to be, and you’ll get there. Life’s too short – you need to do what makes you happy.”

Focus on your goal

Now that she’s on a clear path to realising her ambition, Sade describes what motivates her.

“I’ve got two little people now and I want them to be proud of how hard I’ve worked. I imagine them shouting ‘that’s my mum’ when I cross the stage at my graduation ceremony. That keeps me going.”

A great believer in manifesting the future, Sade has a stand-out vision for her career.

“I dream of being a named partner in a law firm. I think about getting out of the lift and seeing my name on the door. I’ve got a vision board to remind me of what I’m working towards.”

Making the most of support

Knowing that the OU offers different avenues of support is something Sade appreciates far more than she expected.

“There are tough days when you’re working, looking after the kids and a course deadline is coming up. I find student forums great for that – hearing that you’re not the only one struggling and being able to help each other through it.” Sade added, “I know that I’m with a university that will look after me, the tutors and the Student Support Team are brilliant.”

Personal growth

Embarking on this new path has not only developed Sade’s academic ability, she’s noticed a shift in her personal life too.

Studying has given me so much confidence and I’m more empathetic than I was before. I feel like people listen when I talk and they respect my opinion, which feels good.”

Keen to inspire others to take the plunge, Sade explains why her advice is to “go for it!”.

With the OU, you can take learning at your own pace, so it’s never too late to change your life path. Even if you think you don’t have the right qualifications, the OU is so inclusive and there’s always an access route you can take.”

Sade reflects, “I’m grateful to the OU for giving me the push I needed to achieve my dream.”