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Written by Pauline Pitcher

Completing a degree is a feat at any age; drivers range from goal attainment, marketability and employability, learning for learning’s sake, to fulfilling others' expectations. Chasing a degree in later life shares some of the same characteristics with earlier academic pursuits but it is a more intimidating beast. Individuals who pursue a degree in their mid-forties and beyond embark on an adventure, an uncharted course, as the old navigational tools need to be sharpened or replaced.

During my undergraduate degree, accessing course readings and books was a cumbersome and onerous process; scanning through wooden card catalog systems only to find my item in the bottom most drawer, and with it the realization that "exercise does a body good.” I walked over to the librarian’s desk with purpose and handed the requested handwritten material over to the curator of knowledge only to have him shrug his shoulders with a perturbed look on his face at the indecipherable scrawl. The impending eye strain which accompanied the manipulating of clunky, noisy microfilm machines. And of course, I would be remiss if I forgot to mention the dusty dungeon, hidden away from
patrons and secured in my mind with an iron church key- -the Stacks. Lackluster in name, the birthplace of mystery and folklore and the seat of patience as material retrieval was not expeditious.

My Experience
I now find myself on the cusp of completing a Professional Masters of Education degree as a mature student. My reasons for deciding to return to school as with most people can not be pinned down to any one factor, but rather a combination of factors. Self-actualization of a life long dream which re-emerged with a fire and fury, its intersectionality with career transition and the reclaiming of self informed my decision. Other learners might embrace the sense of challenge, engagement, and skill enhancement as they enter middle or late adulthood.

Tips for Mature Adults Returning to School
I would encourage mature students who are considering returning to school to do their due diligence: Research programs, costs, duration, delivery methods, and attend program orientations in order to make an informed choice. Make self-regulated learning your ally as it will differentiate a mediocre student from an excellent one. Be adaptable,
flexible and allow yourself the grace to make mistakes and be fierce in owning your status as a mature student. Seek the support of your immediate network. Capitalize on opportunities to engage with your peers; much of your insights and learning will evolve from them. Counselors, the program’s online community, instructors, coordinators, disability office personnel, and learning strategists can also assist you. The Ban Righ Centre For Women, provides services for women- identified students of diverse ages and backgrounds; mature women pursuing a degree and/or mothers can benefit from student/financial advising, and camaraderie with like-minded individuals focused on achieving their academic goals.
If you opt for online learning, you may want to test ride this environment before you commit to a program. Familiarize yourself with the learning platform and navigation to access your course content. My program is delivered fully online and I am proud that I have been able to manage the technology and mend our fraught relationship. I’ll admit that there were a few bumps along the road but Google became my ally. There was a huge learning curve, but experimenting with different tools as part of my course work’s artifact creation process helped to close the gap.

Conclusion
One needs to be proactive in one’s journey. Fear and anxiety are to be expected as one embarks on this new chapter of his/her life. The first few weeks of your program you will most likely feel discombobulated like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Information will be coming at you swiftly in all directions. Course fees, workshops, speakers, newsletters, disability and accommodation information. computer support, learning objectives and success criteria. You’ll ask yourself.” Where do I begin?” “How do I begin?” Remember your “Why” and take the first step. Know yourself and which strategies which work best to keep you focused and aid your learning. This uncharted course can be navigated with patience, resourcefulness and fortitude.

Sources:
Zimmerman. (2002). Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview. Theory into Practice, 41 (2), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4102_2