WHEN tragedy struck Jane Kearns and her family, she decided it was time to take her life in a new direction.

Fourteen years after losing a baby to cot death, Jane, 46, of Riccall, is about to graduate from the Open University with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.

Throughout 12 years of intensive study, Jane juggled jobs at Tesco, in Tadcaster Road, York, and Sherburn High School with the responsibilities of being a wife and mother.

She chose to enrol with the Open University after being offered places by both the University of York and York St John College.

"I decided it was time to make something more of my life," said Jane.

"It certainly was a lot of hard work. I got to study a lot of social science subjects but also some art subjects that interested me."

Jane, who has two children - Darren, 16, and Debbie, 11 - said her husband, John, 47, already an Open University graduate, drove her determination.

She said: "It was even more special because I found out my results just before my father died and I got to tell him I had a BSc. He was proud."

Jane now plans to further her studies in social science. Her ultimate goal is to study towards a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) to become a teacher.

Updated: 09:32 Saturday, March 27, 2004