Too Mature for College?

Article published in Irish Independent Supplement, June 2010

by Irene Brayden

Like many people, I found myself staying at home to raise my children, not necessarily as a life-style choice but as the result of a career move by my husband. During those years, which were immensely rewarding, I did manage some part-time work and even managed to update my skills somewhat.  I faced my demons with IT and did an ECDL – not without much anguish, I might add. In fact, in relation to computers, my motto soon became ‘if it can go wrong, it will’ – I lost files, deleted content, sent emails to the wrong people – you name it – it happened to me. It did, however, keep me in part-time work.

So when the time came, it was quite a shock to realise that my CV was not nearly strong enough to get me a job interview, let alone back into the workforce. This was very diplomatically confirmed in replies to job applications – apparently candidates with a minimum 3^rd level qualification were now desired. A relevant degree was a criterion which popped up more and more on the person specifications in jobs ads. I suddenly found I was out of the running for the type of work I wanted – in the communication, PR & Marketing fields.

Not one to like being be passed over, I realised I needed to update my skills - or at least package them in a currently recognised and acceptable format (a degree). Like lots of people, I had often toyed with the idea of going back - though I prefer the term ‘going on’ - to college to pursue academic interests. So when I saw the advert for an honours degree in Public Relations, I thought – this is right up my street - everything I could have wished for and more!  The course content seemed exciting - Computers (well no harm in brushing up), Communications 9Traditional) Web Design, Photography, Graphic Design, Business Law, Social Psychology,  Politics, Online Communications and Marketing, , Marketing, Advertising, Business Accounting, Entrepreneurship, plus all aspects of in-depthPublic Relations – the modules (subjects) sang out to me. What’s more, this course was at my local college, Dundalk Institute of Technology.

A quick phone call told me how simple it was to apply – just fill in a CAO.

Now that scared me – the CAO was something my children would soon be thinking about – not something I thought would ever apply to me.  Would my paltry few ’honours’ from 1975 be on a par with today’s high points achievers?

Nervously, I went ahead with it and although I seriously thought about withdrawing my application by summer – having a severe case of the dithers –for some reason I didn’t.  Then followed a short - and friendly – interview, before being formally accepted.

When I went to the ‘welcome day’ for first years –some of the parents asked me whether I had a son or daughter starting that year – they tried very hard not to register surprise (shock) when I answered no actually, I’m starting myself.  Some friends thought I was mad – signing up for a four year course at my stage in life!

While queuing to register I sat beside a young lad who said he was 17 (OMG seventeen!). He was so nice and friendly (‘well brought up’ I could hear the ‘mammy’ in me saying).  I collected my welcome packs – filled with free passes to the local night clubs – offering free drinks – and info on contraception. Nice, I thought - I can leave this surreptitiously around the house for my teenagers to check out. It was also quite reassuring to know that when they get to college, they might get this info too. The night clubs and free drinks – I haven’t yet availed of – for some things, I really am too ‘mature’!

The first day, I have to admit, was daunting. But my ‘friend’ from registration said hello (so well brought up!) and I sought out a girl who had babysat for a friend of mine, insisting to myself ‘we’ had something in common! It was a start.

The lecturers were great, they didn’t bat an eyelid – outwardly anyway - and I fell into the routine of answering their questions about why are we here etc, as openly and honestly as my cautious maturity would allow.

Now, three years on, the whole process has been a real eye opener. I’m currently finishing a work placement, back in the land of ‘real work’ for a while.  However, I really miss the camaraderie of my fellow PR classmates. I mean, who else of my friends (of my generation), gets in excess of twenty ‘happy birthday’ messages on Facebook?

I won’t go into the detail of the three years of class life.  We’ve all come a long way, our personalities and confidence have developed – we have established by now who we all are as individuals and that we don’t all have to be the same to get along and work together (Social Psychology module definitely worked).  Group projects provided some interesting situations as tensions mounted and personalities sometimes clashed. However, I would recommend this as a valuable learning experience for anyone.

At this stage, I can’t wait to finish – and that’s a testament to the course - as I believe I will get work out there in spite of this damned recession.

My message to all - whether unemployed, recently made redundant (either from a paying job or as a mother) or just fed up with others passing you over for promotion – get to your local college and find out what’s out there for you.  ‘Up skilling’, ‘knowledge economy’ and ‘smart economy’ are terms which can apply to you too.

It’s really easy to access the information and there has never been a better selection of education and training opportunities. New, Government schemes are available which allow unemployed persons to keep existing benefits if you do go to college, either part-time or full time. Check them out at individual colleges or the local social welfare office.

You won’t regret it.

And yes, all the clichés about ‘going back’ to college are cheesy, but true – ‘life changing experience’, ‘I didn’t know what I was missing’ and ‘best thing I’ve ever done’. For me, it’s not the best thing I’ve ever done – that will always be reserved for family – but it is the very best I could possibly do for a future career.

And I am so looking forward to our class end of year night out – shh… can’t tell the details...