Case Study - Mary Larkin

My initial career choice was to become a music teacher; I found practising my music enjoyable and easy. I didn’t even consider going to University.

I undertook many short courses over the years but avoided any that had an end of year exam! (including interior design by distance learning, a 6 month course in Fine Art, an upholstery course and a series of lectures in child psychology).

In 2000, both of my parents passed away and my children were either in college or were working and so in 2002 I opted for the Foundation Certificate for those returning to education at Tipperary Institute, which ran from 9 am -2.00pm each day, allowing me to continue teaching music in the afternoon. The course modules included computer applications, learning and study skills.

I was awarded a class prize for outstanding academic achievement and then offered a place in the BA [Hons] Degree in Rural Development at Tipperary Institute through the CAO, which I graduated from in 2007.

At first my only aspiration was to get to the end of that year; when I was awarded a 1st I thought I’d be happy forever. Now, as I approach the last quarter of my graduate placement, I find myself with loads of questions about Development in general; my aspirations continue to evolve!

My return to education has reignited my curiosity and inquisitiveness, something I had in abundance as a child but ignored as a busy adult, sometimes even feeling embarrassed about it. I would advise anyone returning to education to contact student access officers in 3rd level institutions. I didn’t for years; which was such a waste of time as they are such an important source of information.

Financing myself was tough and I dreaded the thought of being in a class of students the same age as my children, but after the first week this was less threatening. 

Technology was a big obstacle at the start, I was a technophobe, and made many frantic phone calls to my offspring begging for help with PowerPoint!

On my graduation day I was lucky enough to receive two awards; seeing two of my daughters beaming at me as I walked out of the hall has to be the highlight of my career to date as it certainly was not in my life plan when they were young. The reversal of roles at that point still continues to resonate emotionally with me.

I would like to continue my studies with a view to working with rural communities in terms of sustainable development; there’s no turning back now! 

Since this article was published Mary completed an M.Soc Sc in UCC and has just started a 4 year structured PhD.  We wish her the best of luck with her studies.