As a teacher, who has always worked with disadvantaged and disengaged pupils, I have always believed that education is the way out of poverty and encouraged my pupils to reach for the sky. My husband and I are prime examples of what can be achieved.
I came from a very poor, Irish immigrant family, brought up on benefits as my father was chronically ill for most of his working life and my mother had to give up her job as a midwifery sister to care for him.
I went to a grammar school, run by nuns and many of the pupils were from well off families. I was looked down on by staff and pupils and humilitated on a daily basis because I received free school meals.
There was obvious discrimination towards pupils who were less well off.
Sadly, my parents did not nurture nor encourage my ambition to go to university and my mother actively discouraged me. She wanted me out there earning money! Her words to me were, People like us, don't go to university.
I defied her and applied for university. When she demanded that I contribute to the housekeeping from my grant, I got a job in a bar to support myself.
I had no-one to network for me, everything I have achieved I have achieved through my own efforts and with the support of my husband who has the same ethos.
I have witnessed networking and nepotism in my teaching career, teachers with little experience or expertise being promoted because the HT and their parents were best friends.
It was a very difficult road, especially as I allowed myself to be ashamed of my background and had little or no confidence in my ability.
I am no longer ashamed, I am proud of what I have achieved, against all the odds.
I have continued to study all of my adult life because those certificates and degrees are the validndn
It does however, take a certain determination to better yourself and bolshiness to get there!