Moving back to a city where you went off the rails?

daniel3982

Has anyone ever done this and it worked out ok for them without them going off the rails again?

Basically about 18 months I left Manchester after 5 years living there, I had a big drugs problem with smoking crack and heroin that I had developed after a long and messy relationship was coming to an end, it was self medicating really as I was very depressed after several really happy years there. To be honest I never really took to heroin, but crack was more of a problem and I definitely used it and alcohol as a crutch, although I never did lose my job the whole time I was in a pretty desperate state. In the end I admitted defeat and got out of the city, moving back in with my Mum up in Newcastle, a place I knew drugs wouldn't be so in my face; losing my (rented) house and all the furniture/appliances etc that I'd accumulated over the years.

It kinda worked, I never took drugs in Newcastle though wasn't happy and never really made friends there either, and after 6 months I went travelling to Berlin and eastern europe before ending up here in Dublin. The only time I fell off the wagon was once or twice in London where crack is basically available on street corners and is easier to buy then alcohol in some parts of town. Even this has been over a year though.

Thing is while I love it here in Dublin and have made lots of friends, truth be told I am not working in an avenue I want to be, I would love to be an occupational therapist, have always dreamed of so. I work in a call centre at the moment and the thought of 40 more years of this makes me very sad indeed. Going to uni here though is ridiculously expensive and there is no NHS bursary available or fees paid for me like it is in England, never mind the cost of living, so it's probably back off to Blighty for me. And remembering the good times I would love to do the course back in Manchester, especcially since I had such a good time there round until close to the end. At 26 I don't really want to be moving to a city where I don't know anyone at all, or is inferior to Manchester/London where I had such good times. I guess though I'm just worried about moving back to a place when it ended so badly before, is this a bad idea? Or have any other people with similar problems in the past been able to move on within the same city or even move back without going down the same path once again?

Miss Fluff

If you are really serious about doing OT I'd move to a new city and make a fresh start altogether. Do you still have lots of friends in Manchester? Are they still into that scene? Did you know people when you moved to Berlin? Or to Dublin? It's not such a big deal to move to a new city. If you really want to succeed in this course I think a completely new start is needed tbh.

watna

but surely as an EU citizen you don't pay university fees here? plus are you a mature student (over 23). it's easier to get in to courses then. Could you work part-time in the call centre and go to college here?

Dub6Kevin

watna wrote: »

but surely as an EU citizen you don't pay university fees here? plus are you a mature student (over 23). it's easier to get in to courses then. Could you work part-time in the centre and go to college here?

Watna's right there. I did it.

You could go back to college, your fees would be paid and as a mature student you would almost certainly get the top level of grant (though it's still pretty poor).

Why not give yourself a chance at this. I did and never looked back.

daniel3982

What are the grants available here? I couldnt find anything on the websites I saw, or it was a confusing message to say the least.

In Britain as an NHS student I would get £6500 per annum bursary and my fees would be free. Whats on offer here as a mature student? If I can make it work I would definitely be interested.

Miss Fluff:

In answer to your question I did have friends here and in Berlin before I moved there, I'm quite shy at making introductions but once I have a small circle in place I'm usually fine. It never really worked out in Newcastle though.

In terms of my friends in Manchester no they're not really into that scene, there was only a couple of us who ever did it, one stopped and the other got quite messed up and last I heard is in London and is a fully blown junkie.

Dub6Kevin

Well it's a couple of years since I finished at college but I got about €7k in all so you would be better off financially in Britain.

JuliusCaesar

daniel3982 wrote: »

I'm quite shy at making introductions but once I have a small circle in place I'm usually fine.

Once you're on a course, you'll get to know people very fast. Get involved in some college societies etc to help. You can be in the same city as previous friends and just never bump into them (if you don't want to). You just move in different circles.

watna

Why don't you do a bit of research in to grants etc here? Even if it's not as financially rewarding to study here it might be better for other reasons i.e.you're settled here and are happy and living a good (clean) life. If you've had problems in the past I wouldn't just focus on the money side but also on where you'll be happiest and safest.

daniel3982

watna wrote: »

Why don't you do a bit of research in to grants etc here? Even if it's not as financially rewarding to study here it might be better for other reasons i.e.you're settled here and are happy and living a good (clean) life. If you've had problems in the past I wouldn't just focus on the money side but also on where you'll be happiest and safest.

I actually quite agree with you in a way, however having done a bit of research into courses I could do over here I'm disheartened to see that I've missed the deadline for CAO applications for this year so I'd need to wait until 2009 before attending here which is a bit annoying as was really hoping to go back in September this year if possible.

the_syco

daniel3982 wrote: »

I'm disheartened to see that I've missed the deadline for CAO applications for this year so I'd need to wait until 2009 before attending here which is a bit annoying as was really hoping to go back in September this year if possible.

Dude, no worries. Get onto the CAO people, or ask around here. The CAO thing is if you get the points. People don't always get the points, and there's always last minute switches.

My point: see if you can get onto the "late list". It existed back in the day, so I'd say it still does. People have gone onto this list as late as August, so I'd say you have a chance. The availability would be less, and it'd be depending on people dropping out, but put down one or three courses, and you should be ok.

Check here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=832

And also here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=107

rainbowtrout

daniel3982 wrote: »

I actually quite agree with you in a way, however having done a bit of research into courses I could do over here I'm disheartened to see that I've missed the deadline for CAO applications for this year so I'd need to wait until 2009 before attending here which is a bit annoying as was really hoping to go back in September this year if possible.

it might not be too late. check out some of the websites of the colleges you are interested in going to. some of them accept late applications for mature students after February 1. (eg DCU)

And the CAO has a late applications process too. It doesn't start until March 3rd according to their website but its the same as a normal application, it justs costs a bit more.

If all that fails, you could take this year to save money and apply to CAO this time next year, you could save a lot in a year which would be a big help for college next year

steo123

why not continue to work in the call centre until such time you have the funds.

cheaper to go college over here overall

but you seem to have made your mind up best of luck

How Strange

daniel3982 wrote: »

I actually quite agree with you in a way, however having done a bit of research into courses I could do over here I'm disheartened to see that I've missed the deadline for CAO applications for this year so I'd need to wait until 2009 before attending here which is a bit annoying as was really hoping to go back in September this year if possible.

You couldn't have done too much research into the whole thing otherwise you would know that, as Watna said, you qualify as a mature student therefore you get free fees and a grant if you don't have a degree already.

Get the finger out and stop moaning about it and actually do something.

Firstly, to be considered for any course, even as a mature student, you have to show that you WANT to do it. So really you should use 2008 to lay the ground work for applying for the OT course. Volunteer your services somewhere at the weekends etc.

Being a mature student doesn't automatically give you a free pass into any course you want. Have you any previous work experience in the OT area?
Have you completed a basic Uni course of any sort? The CAO usually insist that mature students have completed a return to learning course or at the very least to have some practical experience in the relevant field. It's important to prove that you will be able for the workload and can perform at university level.

How will you fund your course? Through sheer hard work. You'll work nights, Saturdays and stick with sh1tty jobs that pay the bills.

If that all seems like too much work then going back to college as a mature student won't be for you. It's not all about sitting in the pub in the afternoon drinking pints and discussing the meaning of life.

I've done it and its not easy but I was determined to stick it out.

soccerchick

I'm doing OT at the moment outside of Dublin but in Ireland. I'm Irish though so not too sure about your situation. However, contact all the colleges in Ireland to see if you can apply even though you are late. NUI, Galway, UCC and Trinity College all have the OT course so loads of options.UCC have 5 mature student places and NUIG have 2. I'm a mature student too and loving every moment of it! I have to pay full fees though which is a bummer and get no grant as I have a degree already....but it is doable, I just work as many hours as I possibly can. Also I saved a nice bit of money to pay my fees but I will be well broke when I leave uni! And I'm older than you so don't let age etc worry you.

In answer to your question about should you move back to Manchester where you had a drug problem, well if you are having serious doubts and don't feel you are fully strong with regard to being able to resist the temptation, well there is your answer..no. I guess you have to ask yourself would you be able to recover from a relapse etc?

There are loads of other uni's in the Uk where you can do OT and in loads of lovely locations....Brighton, Lancaster, London, Scotland etc. I'm a little shy too but you will make friends...I have made loads, you just have to put yourself out there.

Best of luck!

soccerchick

Also, forgot to add.....pay a visit to at least 3 different OT settings as they will look for why you are interested. In the meantime doing courses such as a first aid course, special needs course, sign language etc will help your application. You could also work as an OT assistant if you are lucky to get a position, you need no qualifications for this.

biko

The people/places you have associated with drugs are still there.
Perhaps if you moved to another English city? Brighton or similar?