First Class degree at aged 51

RoccoBunny

I have been through a few bad years, but have come through it, with a first class degree aged 51. Will be graduating a week today.

I have no idea where to begin to know what to do, where to start. And yes, to the people who will come here and say, why did I do it, I did it out of desperation as my life was falling apart. I buried my Dad in the 1st year of the degree, and continue to care for my mother as an only child.

I was a stay at home mum, all my life since grammar school, married to a high earner. I have lifetime maintenance through divorce in 2009, kids now 29 and 23, but still do not believe in myself.

Is there anything I could offer to the workplace at my age. I am very cynical nowadays, and speak my mind, but did get through an undergrad degree without falling out with anyone :-)

missbiggles1

Congratulations!

What subject?

Voyager2002

Well done!

Yes, you obviously have a great deal to offer. Would you like to do something related to your degree subject, or your life experience? The advice would be very different if you were looking for a way to use a degree in Engineering, or one in Classics.

Incidentally, I have known a number of people who completed degrees in their fifties, eighties and even nineties! Your achievement is remarkable, but far from unique.

RoccoBunny

Very generic, on purpose- Psychology

RoccoBunny

Both Voyager, as obviously the 2 are related. I almost wish it was a different area, as I could then say I was a law student etc., psychology is very broad, but i have staff wanting me to go straight to PhD, then have been accepted for a Masters, but the one big question my dissertation supervisor asked me today was, what would I do with a PhD, or a Masters? That one question had me in tears, as it is so true.

Obviously I have funding issues now, as postgrad is very different.

RoccoBunny

I do have a Latin O level Voyager :-)

TELLIT01

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Well done!

Incidentally, I have known a number of people who completed degrees in their fifties, eighties and even nineties! Your achievement is remarkable, but far from unique.

Nothing like pouring cold water on an achievement is there!!??

Brilliant achievement in my book. I certainly wouldn't have had the will power to do it at that age. Congratulations (unreserved)

RoccoBunny

Thank you Tellit, I did think that myself, not sure why Voyager made that comment, I know I am not unique, but I do want to be the wacky woman with a few degrees in later life.

It's not willpower, just drawing on education, which I was so lucky to have, but yes, will give you that, a damn lot of will, consistency and determination. (and trying to keep quiet at times)

daytona0

Weird comment from Voyager but it is true to an extent....

It depends on what your end goal is. Better job? Keep your mind sharp? Personal interest in the subject?

It is great that you have a 1st and I congratulate you for that in itself...

But you now need to start thinking of what your future plan is.

But for the next few weeks.... :beer:

melanzana

Human Resources field shouts out to me anyway.

Get your CV off to as many companies as you can think of.

And maturity and life experience is very much valued in the workplace today.

What an achievement. Congratulations, and hope you get a job that suits you very soon. And you will.

RoccoBunny

Uni are being very good with asking me to come in and look over my cv, what cv? I started after A levels doing a fast track management course in insurance, life assurance, at what was GRE, now Aegon, then got married, met my husband there. He was/ is an It contractor, and has gone on to get contracts over the last 30 years.

For that reason, I used to get call centre jobs, jst to get me out the house, and that is not being disrespectful to anyone who may need a job, it is very different now anyway. Back then, I worked for Littlewoods catalogues, twice, as I went back on their debt collection services, from there went to United Utilities, was actually NorthWest Water then, then to a frontline 999 response for the whole of Lancashire in ambulance response service. I was the one answering the calls , along with one other person. It does not matter, but please do not put my achievement down Voyager, and where I need to go from here