Inspirational adult learners

Jenny’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. A dedicated professional, she embarked on a journey of personal and career development, earning a business management degree and studying for a PGCE teaching qualification afterwards, all while balancing a full-time job, a busy family life, and a multitude of caring responsibilities.

When Jenny enrolled for her business degree, she was working full-time and her two children were just 8 and 9 years old. Her family also included a German Shepherd dog, a cat, one child with additional needs, and an elderly parent for whom she was a carer. Her determination to progress her career and expand her knowledge fueled her commitment to her studies.

One of her biggest challenges was finding the time to study. She said, “Planning is vital to achieve balance. The biggest challenge was bedtime, but my husband is a rock who picked this up regularly to allow me to study.” This shared commitment from her husband was crucial in giving her the dedicated time she needed to focus on her coursework.

Jenny’s success can be attributed to her incredible organisational skills and her focus on effective time management. When asked for her top tips, she shared three key pieces of advice for anyone considering going back to education:

• Do not procrastinate. Tackle tasks head-on to avoid the stress of last-minute deadlines.
• Plan as much as you can. When you can’t plan, at least think about how you will approach your tasks.
• Prioritise the important stuff and work through it methodically. Get organised to ensure you are focusing your energy on what truly matters.

Jenny’s final advice to new adult learners is a testament to the power of preparation and foresight: “Understand what it is you need to complete and create a plan – the more time you put into that at the beginning, the easier it will be at the end.”

Jenny’s journey shows that with careful planning, unwavering determination, and a strong support system, it is possible to achieve ambitious academic goals. She is an inspiration to anyone who believes their circumstances are a barrier to education.

Igor embarked on a Business Management Degree for personal and career development, and his journey is a powerful example of the sacrifices adult learners often make to achieve their goals. Initially balancing various jobs with different hours, he eventually made the brave decision to take a break from work and live off his savings in his final year to give his studies the full focus they needed.

Beyond his studies, Igor shouldered significant family responsibilities. He managed all household tasks, from paying bills and cooking to cleaning and supporting his younger brother’s education. He said, “I had to support my family as they both work very long hours and don’t really understand how things work in the UK.”

The biggest challenge he faced was managing time and prioritizing university work above all else. He overcame this by embracing the Pomodoro Technique. He said: “I managed to overcome this by using the pomodoro technique and by prioritising uni in my final year, choosing to live off savings and stop working.”

Igor’s Top Tips for Adult Learners

Igor’s experience taught him the importance of discipline and using time wisely. His top three tips are:

1. Start your work early and do it in parts: Begin your tasks as soon as possible and break them into manageable chunks.
2. Make university work a top priority: Structure your life to ensure your academic commitments are at the forefront.
3. Study time management: Actively learn and implement time management techniques to succeed.

His Advice for New Adult Learners

For anyone just starting their course, Igor’s advice is clear and straightforward: “Take it seriously from the start, so you don’t hurt your grade in the future.”

Daniel, a professional in the education and skills sector, pursued adegree for both personal development and to meet the requirements of his job. His journey is a powerful example of how online learning can provide the flexibility needed to succeed, even with a demanding schedule.

While undertaking his studies, Daniel worked a 40-hour week and was a parent to three children aged 1, 4, and 9. He found the biggest challenge was simply finding the time to fit everything in. He credits the online format of his course with making this possible. “The online evening courses made this easier to manage as once a session had finished I could either spend the time it would usually take travelling home to continue working on assignments or complete household tasks.” He also highlights the crucial role of his tutor, who was “really helpful throughout the entire course and was very understanding on the couple of occasions where I needed additional clarification on how to best approach an assignment.”

Daniel’s Top Tips for Adult Learners

Daniel’s experience taught him the importance of a clear and consistent routine. His top three tips are:

1. Set a clear schedule: Plan your week in advance to make sure you know when you’ll be studying.
2. Plan ahead: Stay organised and look at upcoming deadlines to avoid last-minute stress.
3. Attend every class session: Making class a priority ensures you stay on track and don’t miss important information.

His Advice for New Adult Learners

For anyone just starting their course, Daniel’s advice is clear and encouraging: “Set a routine that will be manageable so that you aren’t rushing in an assignment in the final days. Keep communicating with your tutor if there is something that you don’t understand or need more clarification on.”

Gin, a self-employed business owner, recently completed his BSc (Hons) in Business Management. His motivation for returning to university was deeply personal, driven by a desire for self-improvement and a personal aspiration to prove he could succeed in a Higher Education environment. He was driven to create more time for his family and his dogs.

He found the biggest challenge was time management, particularly when balancing his studies with the demands of his own business and a home life with two dogs that require a lot of attention and exercise. For Gin, the dogs became a source of relaxation, a reason to take a break and recharge.

Gin’s biggest struggle was in overcoming the mental resistance to work. “Sometimes I felt so exhausted from thinking and writing that I felt my whole body resisting to that,” he recalls. This led him to adopt the Pomodoro Technique as a way to combat procrastination. He made a deal with himself to just “sit down and write at least for one 25min session,” which helped him overcome the inertia and get started.

Gin says: “Time management: This is no doubt the most hardest thing to overcome. I employed lots of techniques such as pomodoro technique where you do 25min focused work and 5min break which makes writing easier as your brain understands that only for 25min I need to sit and write. I give myself permission to write as little as I can but the rule was I must sit down and write at least for one 25min session. That was a deal I made with myself and it worked. Also, my group mates and I did study sessions over zoom. With one group friend we did pomodoro technique together and worked for 3h over zoom with reflection breaks and I think that time I managed to write much more than when I worked on my own using the same technique. Sometimes I felt so exhausted from thinking and writing that I felt my whole body resisting to that, I realised that to take breaks is as important as doing the work. After a short walk in the forest I come back to my laptop a bit calmer and recharged. Time management is something I continue to learn and try to implement in my new routine. Weekly planning is important and then sticking with that plan is a key and to do that plan itself must be achievable so SMART objectives can show realistic things that can be done rather than what I would like to do in that week.”

Gin’s Top Tips for Adult Learners

Gin’s experience taught him the importance of discipline and self-care. His top three tips are:

1. Plan and Stick to It: “Planning and sticking to that plan like your life depends on it.” He emphasises that the plan must be achievable and realistic.
2. Use the Pomodoro Technique: By breaking down work into focused, manageable chunks, he was able to make consistent progress.
3. Take Smart Breaks: He found that taking breaks with a moment of reflection was key. “When you only going forward without celebrating what you already achieved can lead to burnout and disappointment.”

His Advice for New Adult Learners

For anyone just starting their course, Gin’s advice is clear and straightforward: “Submit your drafts on time and plan!”

Moh, a self-employed professional, recently completed a Business Management degree to pursue his lifelong ambitions. His journey is a powerful testament to the idea that with commitment and dedication, anything is possible. For Moh, this degree was about more than just a qualification; it was a profound personal achievement that brought “proudness that all the family are having.”

He faced a significant challenge in balancing a demanding work schedule of around 40-50 hours per week with his studies and a growing family, as his baby was born during his third year. His biggest challenge was time management, which he acknowledges “wasn’t easy.” However, he found that with the unwavering support of his wife and a strong focus on prioritising tasks, he was able to overcome these hurdles.

Moh’s Top Tips for Adult Learners

Moh’s experience taught him the importance of a clear mindset and disciplined planning. His top three tips are:

1. Be Positive and Think Bigger: Maintain a positive attitude and keep your ultimate goals in mind to stay motivated.
2. Prioritise Your Tasks: Clearly identify and rank your tasks by importance to ensure you focus on what truly matters.
3. Don’t Leave Today’s Plan for Tomorrow: Stay disciplined and committed to your daily plan to avoid falling behind.

His Advice for New Adult Learners

For anyone just starting their course, Moh’s advice is straightforward and encouraging: “Don’t overthink, and always remember your biggest goal.”