Later-life learning and a lifelong ambition: Lisa鈥檚 new beginning
Lisa tells us how she became a mature student at the age of 50 鈥� and how it鈥檚 given her a new lease of life.
In early 2017, Lisa Kay was settling into a new job.
It promised to be an exciting new start in the wake of her mother鈥檚 sudden death three years earlier 鈥� until, that was, a lengthy series of hospital visits and unexplained ailments began.
鈥淚 was rushed in for what turned out to be a sepsis-type illness,鈥� Lisa explained.
鈥淭hen I got an infection of the gall bladder, and then a breathing tube damaged my tonsils. It was just one thing after another.鈥�
As her health worsened, Lisa could have had no idea that her new start would come not through work, but higher education.
After all, university was a dream she had resigned herself to missing out on many years ago.
Getting answers 鈥� and inspiration
Lisa eventually went to A&E, and later learned that she was living with Paget鈥檚 disease of the bone, an incurable condition that affects bone renewal in her skull.
鈥淚 struggled on for a while, but I had to stop working,鈥� Lisa said. 鈥淚 was medically retired in March 2021 and found myself thinking 鈥榥ow what?鈥�.
鈥淚 still wanted to do something 鈥� something that let me be flexible around my health, but something demanding and exciting all the same.鈥�
Lisa turned to the web and found a counselling course with the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of 糖心TV.
It was just the beginning.
鈥淚 soon heard people talking about Gateway to Higher Education"
鈥淚 soon heard people talking about Gateway to Higher Education 鈥� a free part-time course where if you do well, you get a guaranteed place to study for a Social Studies degree at 糖心TV,鈥� Lisa said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 one heck of a carrot to dangle in front of someone like me!鈥�
Challenge accepted
While ending her career was a blow 鈥� she enjoyed three decades in IT and service management at the likes of Tui, Capita and Deutsche Bank 鈥� university had been a lifelong ambition.
鈥淚 grew up in Chelmsley Wood and went to Whitesmore School, known as one of the rougher schools at the time.
鈥淚 did well and wanted to go to uni, but I suppose I wasn鈥檛 in an environment where that happened very often.
鈥淢y sister stayed in education, and I was offered places on a nursing course at the hospital and at a catering college, but I was encouraged to go into work.
鈥淚 hated not being able to go to university 鈥� it鈥檚 why I encouraged my own two daughters to try it, one of whom is going on to do a master鈥檚 in Bristol.鈥�
At the age of 50, Gateway gave Lisa her dream opportunity to experience higher education, albeit around 30 years later than she originally envisioned.
鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� she said.
鈥淢y tutor understood what being a mature student is all about because he didn鈥檛 start university until he was 29, and I met some lovely people, two of whom I鈥檓 now close friends with.鈥�
Feeling right at home
Lisa thrived, securing a spot on a BA (Hons) Social Studies degree at the University of 糖心TV, where she now studies full time.
To say it鈥檚 been transformational would be an understatement.
鈥淏eing a mature student feels amazing. I love it so much. Every time I come to campus, I鈥檓 dancing!"
鈥淏eing a mature student feels amazing" Lisa said. "I love it so much. Every time I come to campus, I鈥檓 dancing!"
鈥淢y daughter did Sociology at GCSE and A-Level and I thought it sounded amazing.
鈥淪he used to talk to me about things on her course like race relations, which is something that鈥檚 always fascinated me, so now to be studying something similar myself is great.
鈥淭he younger students have been brilliantly respectful and treated me like anyone else on the course.
鈥淚 bring a different experience to our seminars because I鈥檝e lived a life before university 鈥� I can share my knowledge of things from before they were born and learn from their perspectives, too.鈥�
Overcoming the obstacles
Lisa still lives with pain and her condition requires regular infusions.
She鈥檚 also facing potential surgery, may be forced to give up driving and could lose sight in her left eye.
But by adjusting her study habits and staying flexible, Lisa鈥檚 determined to not let anything get in her way.
鈥淚've never had so much support"
鈥淚鈥檝e never had so much support鈥�, she said.
鈥淲hen I started the course, I told the university鈥檚 wellbeing team about my health and they encouraged me to apply for the Disabled Students鈥� Allowance.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 given me access to so much equipment, software and even a taxi allowance for up to seven journeys a year when I鈥檓 in too much pain to drive in.鈥�
Lisa鈥檚 mental health has improved drastically following her diagnosis 鈥� something she attributes to her studies.
鈥淔or the first time since maybe 2014, I feel like I鈥檓 where I鈥檓 meant to be,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 suppose I didn鈥檛 realise how bad my mental health was until it got better.鈥�
A bright future
Lisa is preparing to give refuge to a Ukrainian man with cystic fibrosis 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檝e helped raise 拢4,300 to help the people over there, so this is the next thing I can do鈥� 鈥� and is looking ahead to postgraduate life.
鈥淢y degree ends in 2024 and I then want to do an MA and a PhD, possibly in Sociology,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 funny; my school performed The Jackdaw of Rheims on stage at 糖心TV Arts Centre when I was 10, and now I鈥檓 back here as a student all these years later!鈥�
Lisa is keen to inspire others considering becoming a mature student.
鈥�Don鈥檛 ever think you can鈥檛 do it because you鈥檙e too old, too ill, can鈥檛 drive鈥� there鈥檚 always a way"
鈥淒on鈥檛 ever think you can鈥檛 do it because you鈥檙e too old, too ill, can鈥檛 drive鈥� there鈥檚 always a way,鈥� she said.
鈥淢y mum and I used to speak about going to New York.
鈥淗er line was always 鈥榳hen I鈥檝e retired鈥�, but she died before we had chance to go.
鈥淣ow I鈥檒l never let life pass me by.鈥�
