(转贴）I decided 53 wasn't too old to start a degree

JohnXU - 2008-5-6 11:46:00

转自OUA英文网站论坛的一个帖子，作者是位就读OUA的58岁老奶奶。

Hi youse guys!

I'm Jennie, I'm 58, I'm a girl (!) and I live in Canberra. I was born and bred in Sydney, but came here when I married, over 28 years ago. But I'm still a Sydneysider at heart, and now the roads have been pretty much fixed, it's only three hours away.

I am doing a B. Communications through Griffith. OUA was the only way I could manage study, seeing as I didn't matriculate when I left school, and with a full-time job and three kids, on-campus studies weren't an option. I started this because (a) I was bored at work and had lots of time to spare, (b) work would pay for it (c) I decided 53 wasn't too old to start a degree (d) I had two kids at uni and I needed to show them where the brains in the family came from [img]https://www.open.edu.au/jive/images/emoticons/wink.gif[/img]. My job prospects improved almost immediately and I ended up being promoted two levels.

My kids are all grown up and have left home. My eldest did a B.Sc. at James Cook and now works as an environmental officer in Townsville. My middle one did B. Commerce and B.Arts (Graphic Design) at Wollongong and now designs grave stones, in Melbourne. My youngest is studying public relations at TAFE. My husband cooks and cleans, and humours me generally as well as working full time in the public service. I am looking forward to become a grandma one day, but heavens only knows when. My two eldest are in stable relationships, but don't look like getting married and/or having kids any time soon.

Study has become my hobby, but I love movies and theatre and have just started up a little business importing fancy stretch fabrics for dancewear. I can make a leotard from scratch (including drafting pattern) in less than an hour. The one thing I find study has done has killed a lot of reading for pleasure. I read so much at work, then study, that the last thing I feel like picking up is a serious book. I can still manage Terry Pratchett and Kerry Greenwood, though.

I (mis)spent a fair part of my 20s travelling, mainly in Europe, but also been to the US and stopped over in interesting places like South Africa, Senegal, Mexico, Panama, and a variety of Caribbean islands. Of course in those days, pre-'70s, we travelled by sea. Hubby and I had a great holiday touring the south island of NZ in March, which was my first overseas trip in 29 years. I like having a current passport again.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my course, although there have been times when I've found it difficult, frustrating and even boring. But I left school at 16 (did my Leaving Certificate young) and spent most of my life working as a legal secretary, so this has been a great change of direction for me. I use just about everything I've learned from the course in my current job - organising events, PR stuff, writing speeches, media releases, etc. I have found the self-confidence that has eluded me all my life because now I know I'm not stupid, and I can prove it.

I hope that this time next year I'll be doing my final exams, so my kids can come to Brissie with me and give me a big party when I graduate.

Jennie

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