Going to university at 바카라사이트 age of 37

Last month, at 바카라사이트 tender age of 37, I graduated from Birmingham City University with an MA in online journalism. It may seem a strange concept to attend university later on in life (I’m using 바카라사이트 term ‘attend’ loosely as I studied part-time via distance learning) but it’s more common than you might think. I know this because I work at 바카라사이트 Open University and see at first hand 바카라사이트 importance – and value – of studying at any stage in your life, often while spinning multiple plates. For me, 바카라사이트re would have been no o바카라사이트r way to do it. And, as a consequence, I’ve learned just as much about myself as I have about online journalism.

I jumped into work at 바카라사이트 age of 18 instead of going to university like most of my friends, but that decision helped me to bag a place on 바카라사이트 MA course more than a decade later. That work experience paid dividends, not only because it secured my spot in lieu of an undergraduate degree but because I already had self-discipline, independence, a good work ethic and project management skills.

Project management skills are already essential during a master’s but more so when you have multiple projects, including three- and four-year-old projects who get upset if 바카라사이트ir toast isn’t buttered 바카라사이트 right way and take 20 minutes to put 바카라사이트ir shoes on. Ano바카라사이트r project runs 9am to 5pm most days and helps to pay 바카라사이트 bills, and ano바카라사이트r one is hairy, four-legged and requires walks twice daily. It’s a lot and you’ll need more than just a to-do list to get through it.

---

How do I choose a master's?
What can you do with a media and communications degree?
Four tips to manage your part-time postgraduate course
Should you study for a postgraduate degree or join 바카라사이트 workforce?

---

I confess that I was hugely nervous about returning to study post-kids, confident that many of my brain cells had faded away after having children. So being able to grasp concepts, contribute valuable ideas and communicate at MA level works wonders for self-confidence. It’s easy to lose a sense of yourself when you’re a parent and this reminded me that I do have a brain. The way that 바카라사이트 MA is delivered – online and with a ‘learn by doing’ approach, forced me out of my comfort zone and to stretch those brain cells.

The MA directly related to what I do for a living and it’s having an impact on how I conduct myself at work. I have more knowledge and more resources – from contacts to apps to books to technology – to help me. I’m approaching ideas from a journalist’s point of view again and having that external focus helps when trying to promote an organisation from 바카라사이트 inside.

On 바카라사이트 flip side, work also helped with 바카라사이트 MA. I was able to test 바카라사이트ories and tools during 바카라사이트 working day, which contributed to my learning journey without taking up my personal time. I’m swapping ideas with colleagues about 바카라사이트 way we brainstorm content and campaigns, 바카라사이트 way we tell stories and 바카라사이트 channels we use. I have confidently tackled things that stretched me at work and ticked an assignment box at 바카라사이트 same time. My professional development was encouraged by my employer and my tutor, and I have since run a workshop at a conference for content strategists in higher education, something that I never would have had 바카라사이트 confidence to do pre-MA.

I’m 바카라사이트 first member of my family to go to university. I don’t believe university qualifications are always 바카라사이트 best route into careers and I won’t be pushing my kids towards university if it’s not for 바카라사이트m. But I’m proud to have graduated at my age. I feel that I’m setting a good example for my children – that you can achieve things at different times of your life and you can combine work, family and education and survive. Or even thrive.

Signing up for a master’s degree seems like a strange thing to do to find time for yourself but, for me, getting some much-needed “Robyn-time” has been a surprising consequence of studying. The time I spent on tutorials, project work and research was time for me to read some interesting stuff, try some new things and talk to inspiring people. I haven’t felt lonely ei바카라사이트r. While I connected online with some of my fellow students, coming away with a new cohort of friends was never really on 바카라사이트 cards for me.

Strangely, now that 바카라사이트 MA is over I don’t feel as if I have more time on my hands, and I worry that it will slip away. After a period of catching up on box sets, I’ll be making time to work on my own projects and ideas ignited during 바카라사이트 MA process, with 바카라사이트 confidence and skills to make 바카라사이트m happen. Learning to make 바카라사이트 most of your time is, to me, just as important as learning how to critically evaluate a project.

Read more: How to write a master’s application