As some of you are aware - last year I undertook a university bridging course at my local adult campus one of which I am proud to say I did extremely well in.  This course has opened doors and created new paths for me as well as preparing me for

Returning to school was daunting. I had been attending the adult campus prior to the bridging course, however, I was only doing subjects that were typically just for personal interest and no other reason. It was laid back and without any pressure, well for the most part anyway. If you are going to dress me up as a shark, get me to talk in a silly voice and then put me in front of a room full of children….well then I am going to get stressed – anyone would have done.

One of my teachers had spoken to me about doing this bridging course and had me considering options I thought were far too late for me to even think about let alone do. I had so many doubts about my capabilities that I was so close to refusing the offer - but- thankfully - I had a pretty encouraging and persistent teacher who saw more in me than I had ever done and as much as I cursed this mans name throughout the actual course and its exams, I will forever be grateful to him and his vision.

I had so many things to consider before actually doing this course as well as so many self-questions. Was I confident enough to do it? Would I be able to focus with my children? Was I focused enough to do it? Was I dedicated enough? And lastly, was I smart enough? The last question was the hardest one for me to answer. I had only completed one week of third year high school, I had not been an overly great student to begin with and I was far from the perfect English student. My spelling was/is shocking, my punctuation was appalling and I apparently sucked at forming a sentence. Something I always thought I was good at and apparently not. Boy did I have a great deal to learn….but you know what…I did it!

I have written so many times about making sure that as a parent, you do things for yourself, making sure that you don’t forget about the things that make you happy as a person and do things which complete you as a whole. My education was my thing, my road to completing my inner-self – I wanted to do something for me that I could look back on and say, ‘I am all that I can be’.

I wanted/needed to see for myself if I had it in me to better myself and to reach that one goal that I had always had, attend university and attain a degree. Well, I am half way there. I start uni in a few weeks and after 4 years I will have that degree I have always strived for, all going to plan that is.

I have taken a risk, even though it wasn’t an expensive one, it was a risk. I have stepped outside my comfort zone and even managed to swallow a little pride in the process. I have begun a journey that I have waited so long to do and have put on hold so many times. I have learnt more about myself in 12 months than I have in nearly thirty aye…..yeah, years…..and have new found pride that I am still boasting about.

I didn’t think that I would be able to finish last year. The odds were against me in so many ways. Personal problems grew out of control, outside interference side tracked me and my studies and personal fears of exams were faced and triumphed. I did it along side a few people who were by far younger than me. I did it despite the obstacles, I did despite health issues and I did it despite the parental obligations which remained present throughout the year. I DID IT.

The return to adult education was to say the least one I will not forget. It was something that humbled me even. I began this journey with fears that I have already mentioned and a desire to prove to myself that I wasn’t too old to start focusing on my career. I took into consideration the time it would take me to go through university and despite the many critics, I will still have 18 years of working life in me after I graduate. I still have time to do this.

It isn’t a waste of time and it is worth every effort in doing. I can not meet my dreams and personal expectations without following this path and that is so very important to me to do. Life is so short to begin with and I did not want to be someone who sits down in their 60’s thinking, ‘what if?’ or ‘If only’. I want to be someone who can look back and say, ‘I DID IT’.

If you are considering taking a chance and following your dreams – stop thinking and go and do it. Don’t use the excuse of children, one of my greatest mentors and friends is a woman who did the bridging course with me and who had 4 children, one of which was under one years of age. She topped the class and is now studying psychology at uni, she is proof it can be done.

If you are considering but want to wait another few years, make a date for when you want to return and then a solid promise that you will. Don’t allow the years to shadow your dreams and don’t allow you fears to barricade you in believing that it is too late or you are not capable of doing it. Follow your dreams and make them your reality. You are worth it…

My return to education has shown my children just how important it is and that it can be done at any stage of life.

Be your own best friend and encourage yourself to reach the heights you have always wanted to.