The viewpoints of a mature student in 2024, being a child was sometimes easier!!

When people say school is the best years of your life they aren’t lying. As teenagers we always wish to be older and to get out into the big bad world and experience what, from the inside, looks like the ideal life.

However, no one tells you of the hardship and trials you face when the school years end and the real-life reality hits. You no longer have the safety net of teachers and four walls within a safe school setting, you’re like a bird spreading their wings for the first time and for me, that was a very scary experience and one that if I had a do over, I probably would plan and manage differently.

Growing up I wanted to be a lawyer but went down the business route as I wanted the chance to have my own business and see my children grow, be the best mum and support system I could without missing their milestones. Some would say this is the best of both worlds and for a while I managed that dream, then like the rest of the world the pandemic hit, and plans change. Reality struck and it was then I realised whilst home schooling that you only have one life and it’s for living, for making dreams and goals transpire into the here and now.

Going back to studying as a mature student wasn’t on the cards, it most certainly isn’t as easy as I remember, but here I am and about to enter the final 3 months of my BA Hons Criminology & Law. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared and worried I wasn’t good enough when I started this journey, partly because of my age and the fact that education and techniques have changed over the years, like everything it evolves.

The Open University is like any other educational setting, and I know some people are sceptical because its online and you do the majority of your work alone. That is where assumptions are incorrect as the OU is just as supportive of its students as other universities, we have online support 24/7. The OU community is more than just an online presence, it’s a diverse community. The friends I have made in the last 3 years will be ones I carry with me throughout life. The cultural differences in the connections made at university have opened my mind to a wider knowledge base, key facts I will take with me in using my degree for good and helping others.

When I started my degree like everyone, I presumed it would be as you see on TV, all the excitement, cases, and facts, in reality it’s a lot more than what is portrayed in these shows.

The degree itself has a lot of politics, something that as a whole you wouldn’t perhaps expect in Law but the history, articles and statutes that form our legal system are often majorly informed by politics, a lot have to be presented to parliament for them to be passed and made into laws, something you learn as you go through the degree.

Working my way through this degree it’s become clear that law and criminology are a spider web of knowledge, branches and fundamental factors that sometimes align with each other. Despite their alignment at times, law and criminology can exhibit contradictions in aspects related to the investigation of, and assigning materials to, cases and assessments. This dynamic often poses a significant challenge, and as a mature individual, one's common sense may not always align with certain legal perspectives. While law has historical foundations, it has evolved to encompass modern aspects, addressing contemporary issues. In contrast, criminology involves extensive research, evidence compilation, and even incorporates equations. You heard me there is formula equations to help with problem solving so when I say it’s a spider web I mean it as, all is not as you may perceive it to be.

I believe the challenges you face as a mature student can far outweigh that of a young fresh school leaver and I say this from personal experience. The commitment to juggling life as a fulltime mum and carer to one of my children, who has additional needs, makes time management and handing in assignments and attending tutorials more complicated albeit not impossible. There is nothing in life impossible if you have the drive, desire, and determination to achieve it. Life lessons have helped me develop my ability to juggle time and responsibilities and with being a more mature student I also have the advantage of worldly experience so to every Ying there is indeed a Yang.

Being a mature individual shouldn’t limit your self-belief or desire to obtain a goal or dream you may have set yourself years, if not decades before. Over the past 2.5 years studying and being this mature student, I have felt a feeling of accomplishment, self-value and overall pride and respect for myself because I started this journey having one idea of what it would be like, only to have that flipped upside down as I navigated the learning outcomes and course material alongside my own abilities.

If I could give anyone debating on whether to become a mature student some advice, it would be this, do it, live for today grasp your dreams with both hands as you never know who or what you will be presented with by taking that leap of faith in yourself.

Natasha Rogers 

Let me introduce myself, my name is Natasha, I am 37 and a mum of 3 beautiful children who are my drive to obtain my undergraduate and possibly my master’s in criminology & law.

I have always loved learning and my favourite teacher at school told me once “Knowledge is the key to the world”, this is something that inspires me daily to achieve.

I volunteer at a mental health charity as well as host online drop-in weekly sessions for anyone needing a safe space to talk or just be around people, so they aren’t alone. I enjoy the country life and nature experiencing everything I can with my children.

The way I relax, and yes it sounds geeky but it’s actually very tranquil, is to find a nice book, country music and light some candles. I believe that a happy balance in life is what makes people unique in their individuality. Life is so short, the pandemic taught us all that, so I make everyday count. I believe in manifesting and meditation as well as practice yoga and pilates.