Written by Dianne Whittle
I returned to university study at the age of 51. The first time I was at university computers and the internet weren’t a big thing, research was done reading books and journals, everything was hand-written.
So, returning to study was scary and frightening, and I was full of doubt.
I was curious with some of the reactions I received when I announced I was going back to university. Close friends and family were over the moon, excited, happy and encouraging.
What surprised me the most was the number of negative comments I received from extended family, ‘friends’, and perfect strangers.
I remember having an eye test and the Ophthalmologist, a stranger, asked me what I did. When I said I was studying Psychology, he asked me ‘why would you bother at your age?’.
I was shocked and didn’t really know how to respond. But then I had a series of similar comments from my dentist, my GP, some colleagues and several friends and extended family.
‘How are you even going to use the degree when you’re finished? ‘
‘You’ll be too old to work’, or ‘are you even going to work in that field once you’re finished?’
Or ‘well you’ve got one degree you’ve never used, why should you do another one?’ and various comments along the theme of ‘why would you bother at your age?’.
These comments often made me wonder why I was bothering. Was I too old to start again?
Did I have the right to do another degree and take the place of someone half my age that could use their degree for many more years than me?
What if something happened and I didn’t finish or didn’t end up working in my chosen field?
But I also wondered why people think this way. At 51 what was I supposed to be doing?
Should I be sitting home in a recliner, knitting and waiting for retirement, doing Sudoku or crosswords to keep my brain active, holidaying, golfing and having nana-naps?
At 51 have I had my career and so don’t have the right or the need to want or expect more?
It’s interesting that we tell our children they can be who or what they want, and we encourage them to follow their dreams.
We accept that younger people change careers many times during their working lives, and we encourage them to gain an education that provides them with the opportunity and vehicle to achieve those goals and dreams.
So why aren’t we more encouraging and supportive to older students?
I’m studying at university to challenge myself, to use my brain and acquire the skills to become a Psychologist because I know I still have plenty to give and can help other people.
That’s enough for me. I have earned six Executive Dean’s Awards and was accepted into the Honours program last year.
I’m currently doing my thesis and loving it, and I’m aiming for Masters next year. There is always value in education and learning, and its open to all, whether you are 18 or 70.
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