Don't give up the idea of dong that degree - a brief look at the way to approach re-entering education in your seventies

1. THE CHALLENGE OF
RE-ENTERING EDUCATION AS
A SEPTUAGENERIAN
NO. I’M NOT BRAIN DEAD YET

2. GAINING SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
• It’s going to be hard to adjust for all concerned
• Let family and friends know how much you appreciate their support, but be firm
with your need for uninterrupted time
• Try to eat and sleep well
• Forgive yourself when you become unbearably demanding – they may not

3. READJUSTING TO STUDENT LIFE
• Regain patterns of study
• Refamiliarise yourself with basics of your subject area
• Do not panic … problems ARE going to occur and there’s going to be times when
you fall flat on your face
• Don’t expect it to be easy
• Seek and accept help – and early
• Don’t expect things to fall into place quickly

4. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE FULL OF SELF-
DOUBT
• I do not know the answer to this one … self doubt is a crippler
• Keep talking the talk and walking the walk
• Try to speak over that insistent voice that tells you to stop kidding yourself
• Seek professional help if you need to – there are plenty more like you out there,
and people choose to follow careers in mental health because they actually LIKE
to help.

5. DEALING WITH THE NEW DIGITAL WORLD
• The changes over the last 20 years are overwhelming and probably can’t be
comprehended either by those who are re-entering study or by those who have
transitioned through with them
• Find someone – QUICKLY - who can explain just how to use it, not avoid it. is so
exciting but it is also very challenging.
• Try to work out how learning, and the world, has changed and what you are
going to need to learn to fully benefit, and CONTRIBUTE to your discipline