Studying For A Master’s Degree In My 40s

If someone said to me when I was younger that I would be studying at uni in my 40s, I would have laughed at them!
Nobody in my family is ‘academically’ minded. They all work/have worked really hard but nobody has gone on to graduate level, not that I am aware of anyway.

From a young age, I have always liked the written word. Starting from making poems for Mother’s Day cards in infant school, making up little verses for birthday cards, to short stories for English literature in high school.
But as some of us are all far too familiar with, life goes on. I had the reckless teenage years partying with friends, then I bought a house, got married, started a family and pretty much took a back seat when it came to myself.

I did rekindle my love of writing when my eldest was a toddler. Having fun reading him stories at bedtime inspired me to write my own picture book. I had an editor look over it, but that was as far as I took it.
Looking back, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing!

After years of wanting to take writing more seriously and learn more about the history of children’s fiction, I finally applied for a place on the MA in Creative Writing course with Manchester Metropolitan University. Ironically, I wrote a short adult fiction story for my application (I worked so hard on this). Once I got to the end of the application form it asked for my undergraduate qualifications. My heart sank at this point as I didn’t have a bachelor’s degree, only qualifications from a college course I completed and my GCSEs from school.
I half-heartedly clicked submit on the online form and thought oh well, that’s that dream done with.
A week or so went by an email landed in my inbox from MMU and I received an unconditional offer!
I could not believe my eyes. It took days to sink in. Of course, I signed my acceptance letter at warp speed! And here I am now just at the beginning of my second year and I absolutely love my uni. It is one of its kind as it has its own writing school so my department is solely centred around writing careers.

I’ve made some great friends, there are events on campus all year round and advice from some of the most knowledgable professors and established authors. It’s mind-blowing.
I have learned so much already. From analysing books, critiquing and learning how to plot novels, world-building, the industry and so much more. I would be here all day should I name it all.
I’m also over halfway through my work in progress which is a YA fiction novel.

I don’t even know where I’m going with this. I guess what I’m trying to say is it’s never too late to do what you love. It may be a course like mine, learning a new language, taking up a new hobby or even a change of career! Without sounding cheesy, chase your dreams! Whatever they may be. You are never too old to do your thing.
I’m living proof that becoming a parent doesn’t mean you have to lose yourself. I’m self-employed and I home-school both of my boys one of whom is autistic and needs around-the-clock care. Now I’ve added a Master’s degree to the mix and yes, it can be quite hectic, and yes I do have a husband who helps me so much, but I’m doing a thing! I’m studying for a Master’s degree in my 40s and it makes me insanely happy.
If I can do it, then so can you.

Do you have something you would love to start but just need a little push to do it?