Many of you regular readers will notice that you haven’t had anything new to read here in months!  It’s confession time for me.  I am dealing with my success!  Yes, it’s true!  I have achieved the latest element in my long term goal of going to college.  It’s a goal that has been on my list for many years and now it has come to fruition.

 

Remember earlier this year, I told you that I was applying to go to college, now that my children are older and more independent?  Well, I’ve been accepted into the college of my choice here in Dublin.  I am thrilled.  I am proud of myself.  I’m even a bit gobsmacked that I’ve been accepted (old bad habits die hard!), but I have!

 

All my time since February has been college related.  Not just on my own account, I should say, but this family is just at a college-phase of our existence.  My daughter was busy submitting projects, studying for finals and then, in May, sitting her finals.  My son was busy planning his college path and making his applications, based on how his exams go (they are ongoing - so fingers crossed) and I have been applying, doing aptitude tests, interviews and then waiting… and waiting … and waiting … until finally I got the letter that said “We are pleased to inform you …”

 

I’m struck daily by the difference in the way school leavers and mature students approach the idea of college.  Firstly, when I was applying, I got a terrible fear of “What if I don’t get a place?”  But my daughter, who’s been through it all, said simply “They you’ll apply again next year”.  It had felt like a do-or-die issue to me, until she made me see that, while there is a lower age limit for mature students (23 in this case) - there is no upper age limit.  I need have no fear that my time was running out!

 

I wrote a letter accepting the place.  I asked my daughter if she thought I had given enough information.  She smiled and told me that a school-leaver would have said - “Yes thanks, I’ll take the place” - whereas I said “Thank you for the offer of a place.  If you need any more information please contact me at home (number) on my mobile (number) or at this e-mail (address).”  And I signed off with  “Looking forward to seeing you in September”.

 

Attitudes on exams also differ.  My childrens’ exams give them the feeling that they are somehow being personally judged in their exams, whereas at this stage of my life I see them more as useful benchmarks of progress (or lack of) and I know that - win, lose or draw - life goes on after exams.  I am not my work.  It is just one expression of who I am.

 

A friend of mine told me: “Mature students always sit at the front of the class.  They really appreciate being there.  They want to see and hear everything that goes on.”

 

I agreed.

 

She said: “But, sitting at the front, you don’t see the people behind you.  When you put your hand up to ask your very interesting question at 12.50pm, you don’t see the murderous looks of your classmates who were watching the minutes till lunchtime ticking slowly by!”

 

Apparently that’s one of the quickest ways to lose friends in college!  So now I know.

 

I could keep on rambling on here about my college hopes, dreams and realities, but then this blog would never end.  All I will say is that from Sept/Oct, I will no longer be actively pursuing my life coaching business.

 

This blog may continue.  Or maybe someone will pay me to blog on the experiences of a mature student?  Who know?  My future awaits me!