After 8 years as an active officer in the Royal Navy, Michaela was diagnosed with Endometriosis and medically discharged. She has now discovered a new passion and is keen to start her new career.
“Taking that leap of faith at 20 years old to join the Navy was the making of me! I had the most incredible time serving in the RN. The transferrable skills and leadership experience is unrivalled. I made lifelong friends and even met my husband, who is still serving.”
Michaela joined the Royal Navy in 2004 and served on a range of ships including an amphibious landing ship built to carry helicopters and marines, a Type 42 Destroyer, and an offshore patrol vessel in the Falklands, rising to the rank of Lieutenant during her service.
“My health problems began when I was diagnosed with Endometriosis,” she explained. “This rapidly became worse, with the pain becoming out of control. I underwent four surgeries and began to find the physical demands of the Navy too much on top of my condition.”
“The Navy was very good and gave me restricted duties in a shore job working for Captain Naval Recruiting. But my health condition didn’t improve, and I left the Navy on a medical pension. As with everything there is a silver lining, my retirement coincided with my first pregnancy and since retirement I have been a stay-at-home mum.”
“The Navy was my passion, and it took me four years to get over having to leave the Service I loved. My husband remained in the Navy, and I was envious watching him excel in his career, even though I was pleased for him.”
Since leaving the Navy she has been at home raising her family. “We were fortunate to spend 3 years in the USA and returned to the UK in 2020 with a view to purchase our own home and put down roots. I came across the DVSF scheme on the internet and applied, as I felt it was time to get a qualification so I could start a new career, now the children were older.”
Earlier in her career, she had completed naval training at Britannia Royal Naval College. This naval training is the equivalent of a Foundation Degree in Science, and she knew that there was a possibility to transfer the credits.
“I contacted the team to ask about the scholarship and was encouraged to apply. I do not have what I consider a disability, but my condition qualifies as a disability under the DVSF.”
“I’ve never been traditionally academic so was surprised and delighted when I was awarded my scholarship. As I was able to transfer the 240 credits I had built up with my naval training, I went straight onto level three and only need another 120 credits to complete my Open Degree.”
On hearing she had been awarded a scholarship, she was initially shocked and then scared, as entering at level 3 was a daunting prospect. She felt a lot of pressure to perform well and the expectations she had put on herself were very high.
“This year I completed 60 credits in 6 months studying ‘Management Accounting & International Finance and Leadership in a Changing World,” said Michaela. “I was so happy.”
How the OU changed my life
“This year I completed 60 credits in 6 months studying ‘Management Accounting & International Finance and Leadership in a Changing World,” said Michaela. “I was so happy.”
“My kids are now aged 11 and 9 and I drop them off at school and then study. Or sometimes I study in the evenings. I wanted to use my degree to give back and help others by working in an operational role within the NHS. Studying with the OU has given me a fresh sense of purpose and I now have definite goals for my future.”
“The OU way of learning is so flexible I haven’t had any problems fitting in my studies. It allows me to continue providing the parenting continuity whilst my husband is away and I’m able to continue working too.”
Through the DVSF mentoring programme she found herself becoming more interested in patient health than in the operational side of things. She had always been interested in the human body, so she started exploring careers in the medical field and fell in love with Chiropractic.
“When I hear I had been awarded a First Class BSc (honours) Open degree, I took a leap and applied to the University of South Wales to study the Master of Chiropractic course,” explained Michaela. She was offered a place on the foundation course which will lead into the MChiro course starting in September 2023.
Michaela would love to say to DVSF donors, “Simply, thank you for the support and making this scholarship possible. It goes beyond the financial element of the DVSF, the entire set up behind the scenes at the OU, career coaching, mentoring programme, veterans’ forums, and the genuine care the team show and provide is beyond anything I experienced leaving the Armed Forces. This is how it should be done for all veterans!”