Older students are determined despite the stress, writes Joanne Brookfield.
When Barbara Panagiotopoulos finishes her master of psychology (forensic) next year, she will have been studying for 10 years straight. As a single mum with two kids, she’s had to study part-time to balance ‘‘running a household, work, looking after children and study, all at the same time’’, she says.
These additional pressures on a mature-age student’s time are common and a reason starting mid-year can help get the work-life balance right, says the University of New England’s assistant director student services, Rhonda Leece.
The university has ‘‘significant numbers of older students’’ applying to enrol and part of their decision-making about when to start study means getting the rest of their life sorted out at the beginning of the year. ‘‘Second semester is really very convenient for them to start launching their own career, study-wise,’’ Leece says.
Working out the balance is the key to successful study as a mature-age student, she says. ‘‘It’s got nothing at all to do with capacity to study; it’s got everything to do with working out your own technique for balancing from all those competing demands on your time and your head space.’’
A senior counsellor at the University of Newcastle, Teresa Dluzewska, says people make many sacrifices to return to study but the opportunities it brings are worth it.
‘‘Whatever people’s reasons, studying at university is a life-changing experience,’’ she says.
To assist mature-age students – defined at Newcastle as aged 25 and over – Dluzewska runs workshops addressing these balancing techniques. They offer students the opportunity ‘‘to reflect on their sense of purpose and strengths and skills in small groups, and to share their expectations and concerns with peers, mentors and staff,’’ she says. Academic skills, succeeding at uni and stress management are covered.
It’s a diverse group, Dluzewska says, which is why student services are flexible. Mentors and advisers are available and mature-age students have online resources – such as Ask UoN and My Journey – they can tap into.
Starting in second semester can also help mature-age students socially. ‘‘Depending on the course, enrolling midyear may mean that students are part of a smaller cohort, which can make it easier to get to know people,’’ Dluzewska says. ‘‘A little support goes a long way.’’
For Panagiotopoulos, life is ‘‘generally very busy’’ and, during assessment times, becomes stressful but she loves it. The flexibility of study has also been a great option for her, given her circumstances.
‘‘I have the best of both worlds – being there for my family and keeping myself stimulated, steering my career in the direction I know I want to go.’’
All in the balance
After an overnight shift, the last thing most people would feel like doing is their uni work. But for mature-age student Elija Thomas-Burrows, that’s how he manages his work-life balance.
Two years ago Thomas-Burrows decided marketing was not satisfying and he ‘‘wanted a career with the ability to help others’’. So he enrolled in nursing at Notre Dame. Now into his second year of full-time study, he also works as a nightclub medic on weekends, volunteers with St John Ambulance and is the nursing rep for the student union. And there’s a baby on the way, as well.
‘‘Life can be tough and tiring but despite this, I am enjoying being a student again and enjoying learning new things,’’ he says. Starting a new career at 27, when all his friends are well into theirs, hasn’t been easy; neither is living on a part-time wage. But Thomas-Burrows feels the advantages outweigh the difficulties.
Time management is the key to getting the balance right. ‘‘I have to utilise every opportunity available to me to study. This may be while on the bus or while having lunch.’’
Support also helps. ‘‘I am lucky that my family and partner are completely supportive of my decision to study and know that when exam time rolls around, I go into hibernation mode for a reason.’’