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<< It's never too late...
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Posted Jun 6, 2003 by LadyChatterly
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1
 | | I can vouch for the old adage 'It's never too late'
I was widowed at the age of 40 and left with three children aged 3,10 and 11.
During the first year of widowhood I found myself increasingly isolated socially...invitations tended to be during the day and for all of us. I decided to apply to the Open University as a means of staying sane. (Very scary since I'd left school with only GCE's)
I got through the first year and found myself at the Summer School where my Tutor said I should consider doing a degree full-time.
Despite the obvious difficulties - my youngest child and no possibility of a grant (classed as a single person) and on a modest widow's pension, I applied to the nearest Higher Education establishment - a Polytechnic - doing Combined Honours (seemed more interesting) Since French was one of my choices, the make-up of the course meant I was travelling 50 miles every day, studying every night and running house and children...for three years.
My kids were just great. When it got to my Dissertation, they used to talk about Mum's book 
I came out with a 2.1 and no idea what to do then. A local college was running a TESOL Course - I got on that - found that I just loved the classroom part. Next step? PGCE at a local prestigious university and then...the offer of TWO jobs!
I took one and in 8 years had two promotions.
Now? With no dependants, I'm ready to change again and I will definitely learn another language (in addition to English and French) for fun
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| | | Subject: It's never too late...
Posted Jun 6, 2003 by LadyChatterly
This is a reply to this Posting
| | Posting
2
 | | I can vouch for the old adage 'It's never too late'
I was widowed at the age of 40 and left with three children aged 3,10 and 11.
During the first year of widowhood I found myself increasingly isolated socially...invitations tended to be during the day and for all of us. I decided to apply to the Open University as a means of staying sane. (Very scary since I'd left school with only GCE's)
I got through the first year and found myself at the Summer School where my Tutor said I should consider doing a degree full-time.
Despite the obvious difficulties - my youngest child and no possibility of a grant (classed as a single person) and on a modest widow's pension, I applied to the nearest Higher Education establishment - a Polytechnic - doing Combined Honours (seemed more interesting) Since French was one of my choices, the make-up of the course meant I was travelling 50 miles every day, studying every night and running house and children...for three years.
My kids were just great. When it got to my Dissertation, they used to talk about Mum's book
I came out with a 2.1 and no idea what to do then. A local college was running a TESOL Course - I got on that - found that I just loved the classroom part. Next step? PGCE at a local prestigious university and then...the offer of TWO jobs!
I took one and in 8 years had two promotions.
Now? With no dependants, I'm ready to change again and I will definitely learn another language (in addition to English and French) for fun
ps Apologies for repeating...I'm new to this and forgot the Subject box
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