studying in later life?

[Um_yusuf]

Assalam alaikum dear brothers and sisters

I want to ask , are there any bros or sis's who would 'go back' to study in their 30s or 40s because they were unable to continue their education earlier due to marriage or other circumstances?

Im considering this but im afraid tht id look like the only OAP in class, and i dnt have tht much confidence because of the age factor:(

any advice would be appreciated

jazakhallah khair:)

[muslimahmedic]

wasalaam,

Mashallah that really good. :) You should definately not be put off by the 'age factor'. I am a graduate medic (alhamdolilah) and in my class alone there are about 20 people who are mature students, a few married with kids. Instead of seeing urself as an outcast or something; you would be seen more as a person with knowledge and experience and an asset to the group. Wish you all the best and may Allah swt may you successful in all you do. Ameen.

Allah Maak.

[Milly]

salam sis,

do not let ur preconceptions hold u back if u want to further ur knowledge.
there are many mature students studying at universities nowadays so very likely that u will not be the only one in ur class.
and anyhow, look at the positive side...u will be far smarter and ahead of the game than any of them.

[HiBiScUs]

If its something that you really want to do, dont let the age factor put u off, coz as soon as u start ud realise that you blend right in coz there are quite a few mature students at uni, people wit kid, those that ahave decided to do a 2nd degree etc....inshallah, go for it.

[carol_au]

Assalam alaikum dear brothers and sisters

I want to ask , are there any bros or sis's who would 'go back' to study in their 30s or 40s because they were unable to continue their education earlier due to marriage or other circumstances?

Im considering this but im afraid tht id look like the only OAP in class, and i dnt have tht much confidence because of the age factor:(

any advice would be appreciated

jazakhallah khair:)

Sis alhumdulillah I did.

I studied nursing and midwifery and then after working a few years I married and then stayed home, taught my boys and got involved in voluntary work until my early 40's when I then returned to study and reatrained as an adult educator, youth counsellor and ESL teacher.

Alhumdulillah that training and my past has opened the doors to some lovely jobs in the past 4 years since I returned to the work force.

If the chance is there .. my suggestion is to take it insha'Allah. The more you stimulate your brain in your middle years, the more you keep it alert and there is a lot of evidence that an active brain is less likely to be affected by dementia.

At the very least. it will keep you interested in things and interesting as a peson, and keeps life full of challenge.. my suggestion.. choose some things you have always wanted to study but haven't been able to.. as an older student you usually have a good idea what your gifts are.. your strong points and your interests... what you are naturally interested in.. I suggest you use that knowledge to guide you as you choose a subject to study.

alhumdulillah

[Love&Peace]

You are inspirational. Currently we are staying in a University accommodation. I kno wmany ppl coming back to school to pursue their interests. One of them is going to be a grandpa soon. And believe me, young students have a lot of respect for them. As, it needs a lot of dedication to come back to school.
And the best moment is when the kids attend their parent's convocation. It inspires them to be equally dedicated like their parents.

All the best :up:

[Um_yusuf]

jazakhAllah khair for the wonderful replies
just reading them has already boosted my confidence, Allhumdollilah

May Allah swt bless you all and make u successful in this life and the next, ameen:)

[Enigma Dreamer]

I believe, and firmly so, that one will never cease being a student as long as they are breathing. There is always something more out there to learn. And why not, at 30, when I am so strong and can learn?

[Um_yusuf]

Sis alhumdulillah I did.

I studied nursing and midwifery and then after working a few years I married and then stayed home, taught my boys and got involved in voluntary work until my early 40's when I then returned to study and reatrained as an adult educator, youth counsellor and ESL teacher.

Alhumdulillah that training and my past has opened the doors to some lovely jobs in the past 4 years since I returned to the work force.

If the chance is there .. my suggestion is to take it insha'Allah. The more you stimulate your brain in your middle years, the more you keep it alert and there is a lot of evidence that an active brain is less likely to be affected by dementia.

At the very least. it will keep you interested in things and interesting as a peson, and keeps life full of challenge.. my suggestion.. choose some things you have always wanted to study but haven't been able to.. as an older student you usually have a good idea what your gifts are.. your strong points and your interests... what you are naturally interested in.. I suggest you use that knowledge to guide you as you choose a subject to study.

alhumdulillah

salaam sis

wow mashallah ur amazing:rubeyes:
you've done so much , your inspiration for me to go back and study
Although im just looking to work with kids in school and start with becoming a teaching assistant , i think its one of the most rewarding jobs
inshAllah

[carol_au]

salaam sis

wow mashallah ur amazing:rubeyes:
you've done so much , your inspiration for me to go back and study
Although im just looking to work with kids in school and start with becoming a teaching assistant , i think its one of the most rewarding jobs
inshAllah

Alhumdulillah sis.. do it. I'm currently working as a school nurse/firstaider/teacher aide in a muslim school, where many of the students are from non English speaking backgrounds .

A couple of years ago I worked with young indigenous teenagers in outback Australia who had dropped out of school. For a year I was blessed to be their mentor and to help them learn skills to go back to either conventional schooling or into the workplace depending on their age. Masha'Allah.. it was lovely

It is indeed a most rewarding job sis. keep focused and insha'Allah if you can.. do follow your dream .. you won't regret it and I'm sure your own life experience will be such a help for the students you work with. SubhanAllah our Muslim teenagers need adults interested in them .. who choose to work with them.

[Guvna]

Salams,

i gratueeated only a couple years back.. in my class there must have been some 7-8 students ranging from 30-50... even had one 60 year old... this is in compputing!!

[Daaal]

I remember back in pakistan my aunty went back to education after she got married and had a child, and Alhumdullilah it's really good to see her enjoy doing it. Nothing should hold you back from going back to studies, in my course there are plenty of mature students and we get along fine, age doesn't really make a difference.

[miss-islamic]

For you: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/245371/95_yearold_woman_becomes_oldest_college.html?cat=4 :D (There are other stories too, check'em out for inspiration! :D)

[rahma]

My mom went back to school in her early 40s after 15 years as a stay at home mom. She earned a teaching certification and is now and elementary school teacher.

She did encounter some problems, especially when it came to group work. She was very dedicated and wanted to do her best, where as her groupmates were often wanted to get by on doing as little as possible.

I got a paralegal certification after getting my BA, and more than half my class was non-traditional (aka older) students. I think it's becoming more and more common, especially when you're pursing a trade or studying a job specific subject.

[Um_yusuf]

JazakhAllah khair for all the replies and encouragement:up:

[parwaaz]

Assalam alaikum dear brothers and sisters

I want to ask , are there any bros or sis's who would 'go back' to study in their 30s or 40s because they were unable to continue their education earlier due to marriage or other circumstances?

Im considering this but im afraid tht id look like the only OAP in class, and i dnt have tht much confidence because of the age factor:(

any advice would be appreciated

jazakhallah khair:)

i'm hitting the 30,s and i cant think of a year when i have not been doing a course:smack:need a break now!!

[ugh]

Salam

go for it! what have you got to lose? (tution fees aside) that said one of my tutors was barely 5 years older than me and one other student which was :o

and about 6 years away from turning 30, but one of my tutors was a chef for most of his life, started an Open Uni course in his late thirties and ta-da few years later he's a teacher & still learning!

[Eemaan]

um yusuf sausage, go ferrit.

the best students in my class at uni were mature students- they all got 1st class honours mashallah. their age and experience was definately an advantage.

as soon as we were given assignments theyd go runnin runnin runnin to the library and take out every possible book pertaining to the assignment title and then later deny all knoweldeg of it :smack: kothas

you'll be brilliant. where did you finish off education last?

[parwaaz]

um yusuf sausage, go ferrit.

the best students in my class at uni were mature students- they all got 1st class honours mashallah. their age and experience was definately an advantage.

as soon as we were given assignments theyd go runnin runnin runnin to the library and take out every possible book pertaining to the assignment title and then later deny all knoweldeg of it :smack: kothas

you'll be brilliant. where did you finish off education last?

:rotfl:

u really are into using tis word very often. just hope you dont use it to address your husband!

if you do let us know the response!!!!!!!!

[ummbilal]

i recommend it,

I began training as a doula at 27, and its the best job i've ever had!

mature students have a lot to offer!

[Um_yusuf]

JazakhAllah khair again everyone,

inshAllah i hope to start a course in september:D

[ugh]

tell us all how it goes!

[Eemaan]

JazakhAllah khair again everyone,

inshAllah i hope to start a course in september:D

:D

which one, what you studying?

[Treasured Soul]

:rotfl:

u really are into using tis word very often. just hope you dont use it to address your husband!

if you do let us know the response!!!!!!!!

LOL!!


@ Topic ... i went back to uni after my lil one started full time school .. whic was my mid twenties ...

Though mature students are outnumbered .... you will be surprised at how many actually go back ... and i dont think they have a hard time fitting in ...

so dont worry about it .. just get ur foot in there and the rest will be just fine insha'allah =)

[Arsalan]

I certainly plan to study for other formal qualificaitons in my 30s and 40s, as well as informal studies.

It will keep active and happy.

[thedon2008]

Theres mature classes now to and i see different (oldens) buda and budiya all the time coming back to learn more and further themselves.

[alamomuslim]

Here in the US many universities offer courses online. That way you would not have to be at university with young folks. There is now difference in the diploma earned from online or in person classes. Inshalla I will continue me education online this fall.

[Um_yusuf]

tell us all how it goes!

inshAllah i will:up:

[Um_yusuf]

:D

which one, what you studying?

Well, i've always wanted to work with kids so hopefully i'll start a simple teaching assistant course and see where tht leads inshAllah:D

[Reema]

Well, i've always wanted to work with kids so hopefully i'll start a simple teaching assistant course and see where tht leads inshAllah:D

I started of with an NVQ level 3 in student learning and classroom support (teaching assistant) and went on and became a teacher. I have a degree but not in education methods, it was useful but its not what I teach my students so the NVQ was very very useful in learning certain things. Try and do an NVQ if you can inshallah.

[-Shamil-]

theres nothing wrong with it

theres an old ex-chechen mujahid on my course! lol

he gets on well with the younger lot, age really dont matter at uni - most people are adults

when i was at college there was a 60 year plus brother on my maths course - he had a white beard and used to wear shalwaar kameez and topi all the time - he was proper cool :cool:

[Daaal]

theres nothing wrong with it

theres an old ex-chechen mujahid on my course! lol

he gets on well with the younger lot, age really dont matter at uni - most people are adults

when i was at college there was a 60 year plus brother on my maths course - he had a white beard and used to wear shalwaar kameez and topi all the time - he was proper cool :cool:

That must be cool, Mash'Allah has had a very rewarding career.

[Qiyas]

:salams:

Maybe slightly off topic, but look at the ages of people like Hadhrat Abu Bakr (RA), and some of the other Sahaba (RA), when they embraced Islam, they all had loads to learn, and they didn't let their age put them off. I heard of a daadi who learned the Qur'an Majeed off by heart at the age of 70 !

:jkk:

:wswrwb:

[-Shamil-]

That must be cool, Mash'Allah has had a very rewarding career.

yeh mashallah he's a great brother very down to earth - his had an extraordinary life