Choosing to return to study can be a daunting prospect, and if like me you’ve been out of education for a long time, it’s hard to know if you’d even have the capacity to take on lectures and seminars, understand the academic language and keep up with your peers, let alone find the time to fit in studying and assignments. These were just some of my fears when I decided to bite the bullet and get a degree.
It has been 20 years since I had left school and entered the world of full-time work and spent that time, climbing up the ladder in the clinical retail industry and in later years, raising my three children. The prospect of entering into the unknown world of academia petrified me, but I was determined to give it a go, and I’m so glad I did!
You are not alone
One of my biggest anxieties before starting was that I’d be a complete fish out of water, feeling ancient compared to all the young students and so I wouldn’t fit in. are few students more dedicated and motivated than that of someone who has chosen to return to study. Remind yourself of the reasons why you’re here and look towards that end goal to keep you going.
I would encourage anyone who is considering returning to education to take the plunge. Spending time in this vibrant, diverse city with its beautiful historic buildings, vast array of coffee shops and restaurants and riverside walks all add to experience and although it can be a juggling act, it’s rewarding, interesting, liberating and I don’t regret it for a second!
