The best years at Brighton

Sally, who now runs her own business Mum’s Back, scored a C, E and U in her A-level English, home economics and art exams and confessed: “I’ve stuffed that right up”.

But choosing Brighton turned her life around, for the better.

Sally told her story in The Guardian’s Clearing guide article:

“I had my heart set on going to Sheffield University, but that wasn’t an option any more. I sat on the concrete floor and listened to my friend’s voices celebrating around me, pretending I wasn’t bothered. In fact I was. I knew it was my own fault – I was just too interested in boys, drinking and going out socialising at the time.

“One of my friends came to my house and persuaded me to look at the clearing list. We literally stuck a pencil on the list randomly and it landed on the University of Brighton, on a course about historical and cultural studies.

Sally with eldest daughter Daisy

“I rang up and got in. I didn’t know a thing about Brighton and arrived that September having never even visited. But I enjoyed three fabulous years at university, made my best friends and later found my husband, and dad to my two kids - and we still live in Brighton.

“I got a job straight after university in sales, then moved into events, and this year launched my own business selling hamper gifts for new mums. It’s going really well and I’ve been on TV and radio talking about it.

“A-levels are a world away. I asked my mum today if she could remember what I got and she had no idea. But the experience did have a lasting effect on me – even now, when I’m stressed, I have the same dream of being in that sports hall in an exam with no clue what any of the questions are about.”