Doing a Degree in Your Forties.

It may sound like madness to some... but not to me and here is why.

Today I passed my exam and I am completely thrilled. If anyone has ever done an Arts and Humanities degree, you will know that philosophical essay questions are quite difficult and hard to judge!

But I smashed it....yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I still have a couple of years to go...but still. There is life in the old girl yet!

Now I have finished this year, I can relax in the knowledge that I know a little more about art history, philosophy and creative writing...plus much more. That may sound boring to some (some of it was boring tbh) but it has opened up so many perspectives on life and education.

This is my second degree and I have changed so much since my first. The way I study, my interests, and reasons as to why I am now wanting to study.

So, why another degree?

My first degree I started because I wanted to give something back to society. I wanted to help people who suffered from society and all its madness, and that's what I did. For around 15 years. 

I have no shame in saying that I was homeless at 15, had way to many drugs in my system and was deeply depressed. By 18 I had two children and I changed my life around rapidly. A youth worker was my saviour and that was the main reason I got a higher education. I refused to do GCSE's so I had to do a year at college before they would accept me. 

Now, I want to be able to write fictional stories but also non-fiction philosophical pieces. I always have a need to help society and am fascinated with social research, which is why I will go on to specialise in creative writing and philosophy.

I started to get into personal development and writing. I wrote a few books and started to coach people on their spiritual paths. Currently, I earn money through various sources because I am no longer wanting to work for other people any more, and my self-assessment has lots of 'mini enterprises'. I earn much more than minimum wage this wage and I am truly grateful that I have to opportunity to do this and help my mum, do family stuff and go for daytime walks and trips out.

My point in doing a degree, later on, is this. It has been far more enjoyable, because there has been no pressure on this being needed for my career.

My home life is more balanced and stable and I have the capacity to absorb the knowledge a little more.

My life has changed and my studies have enabled me to grow my knowledge. The difference between this time and last is that before, it was to start my career, now it is to support it.

Studying in your forties or older, in my opinion, sets about different challenges but ones that are more driven by the experience of previous study or career choices.

Over to you. What is your opinion abut studying later in life?