At 47, I never imagined returning to higher education, much less enjoying it! For me, college seemed a far-fetched dream. At nineteen, a terrible relationship derailed my priorities. Because of the drama, my grades plummeted, leading me to drop out.

In 2014, I thought I’d give it another shot. However, my world became a whirlwind with three energetic sons aged nine, eight, and five. My spouse and I pursued our bachelor’s degrees while working full-time, but our boys craved our attention and felt neglected. One Saturday morning, while we were studying on the porch, Alex, our youngest, asked, “Why are you both always reading? We want to go to the park. You never take us anywhere.” Overwhelmed with my homework, I snapped at him. I turned to my husband and said, “I can’t do this. We’re ignoring the kids, and I’m taking it out on them.” I announced that I was dropping out. Despite the challenges, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

Fast-forward to 2022, and the thought of never finishing college still bothered me. Then, one day, my supervisor, Sara, the head librarian in our high school, announced she was moving to Hawaii. As her assistant, I learned so much from her, which gave me the confidence to take over her role. Her leaving and never earning my degree reignited my passion for education and motivated me to pursue my dreams.

During lunch, I told her my two big goals: earning my degree and writing a novel. Forget the sports car—this is my mid-life crisis plan. With that decision made, I dove in. My first step was researching local colleges with English majors. Next, I checked out Library Science Master’s programs. You know what they say, “Go big or go home,” right? Once the plan was set, it was time to break the news to my husband.

The year our oldest started college, I decided it was my turn. At dinner, I told my husband Sara was leaving, and when he asked if I’d apply for her position, I explained that I couldn’t without a bachelor’s degree. Then I shared the real news: I was returning to college. I had researched programs and planned to start that spring. I felt excited and ready. With the boys older and family dynamics shifting, I figured they could help more. The timing wasn’t perfect, but when is it? After years of prioritizing everyone else’s dreams, it was finally my moment. He set down his fork, shrugged, and said, “Okay, I guess you’re going to college.”

That spring, I majored in English at the University of North Georgia. I loved my composition courses, but math was tricky—I shed a few tears! Thankfully, my boys had already taken the class and helped me out. Public speaking was another challenge; I’d get so nervous my voice shook and my heart pounded during presentations. But I pushed through and got straight A’s! I enjoyed diving into my writing and literature courses with those hurdles behind me.

When I tried signing up for classes the following semester, I discovered I couldn’t complete my online degree with UNG. Frustrated, my advisor advised me that Clayton State University (CSU) provided the same degree online. I have never been happier. Throughout my first semester, I had the privilege of serving as a contributing editor on Cygnet, CSU’s literary magazine. And with my next internship, I will also serve in the same role for our newspaper. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would intern at my age.

Growing older brings a wealth of wisdom and life experiences that I’m excited to share with my classmates. Many of my peers look to me as a mentor. Recently, one classmate asked me to join his study group to discuss questions and gain insights from my perspective. Another student said he appreciates my peer reviews in our Intro to Writing class.

I love enhancing the learning experience by sharing my stories. In my Writing Power and Culture class, we read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Growing up in the ’80s, I recognized the pop culture references that others missed. Explaining these details helped my classmates connect with the book more deeply. While I enjoyed the nostalgia, they appreciated the video game elements. Bridging that gap and making the story more engaging was rewarding.

You might be wondering why this matters. It matters because it could be you. Whether you didn’t finish college or are considering a midlife career change, I refuse to let age or anyone else hold me back from the life I deserve.

This year, I turn 50, and I’m letting my experiences guide me. I’ll no longer prioritize others’ needs over my ambitions. This is my moment to shine, and I invite you to unlock yours too! Remember, it’s never too late to chase your dreams if you feel limited by age or circumstances. Let’s support each other in taking that leap, whether going back to school, starting a new career, or exploring a passion. Our best chapters are still ahead!