Melissa Saunders - Student Profile
Studying towards a Bachelor of Social Work
After 17 years at home raising children, deciding to undertake a university degree was a big step for Melissa, but it was something that she had always wanted to do.
‘I decided the time was right to try something new. I wanted to start a social work degree but was unsure whether I was up to it. Having been away from education for so long, I felt the CUP programme was a great place to start and to find out if I could manage the work load and whether or not I would enjoy going back to school at all.’
Now undertaking a Bachelor of Social Work, Melissa found the CUP programme to be an excellent stepping stone towards starting her degree.
‘I really enjoyed the challenge of the programme. The background I received for essay writing and other skills proved invaluable once I started my degree. It made the transition so much smoother, and I’m really glad I did CUP first. It gave me a chance to feel my way and test out my options before committing to a degree.’
Now Melissa is enjoying the challenge of balancing study, work and spending as much free time with her family as possible. Once her studies are complete, she hopes to work as a counsellor or as a social worker with youth and children, and has no hesitation recommending the CUP programme to other potential students.
‘The skills leant definitely assist you towards university study, providing a background to papers and allowing you to test the waters and see if the subject is something you would want to study further. Plus, the class sizes are small, and the teachers are really helpful.’