Dublin City University - Qualifax

SECTION 2
10
My name is Terri, I am fifty years old and I am just about to take my
final exams in History and Anthropology at NUI Maynooth. Coming from
a working-class background I was not encouraged to progress beyond
secondary school. In 1998 I applied to NUI Galway to do an Archaeology
degree, but I had not done any sort of preparatory course and I didn’t even
get an interview. I shelved the idea of college until I heard of the Certificate
course in Women’s Studies at UL in 2001. I applied, was accepted, and by
Christmas (and my first essays in thirty-odd years) I was hooked. I had
decided that I really wanted to study Anthropology so I applied to NUI
Maynooth. This time, because I was well-prepared, I succeeded.
My lecturers at UL had been immensely encouraging, and had given me
lots of advice and skills training, so I felt that I could cope with the work.
Being here with so many other matures has been marvellous. In September
2006, the friends I have laughed, cried, swotted, cursed and cheered with
will join me on the podium to receive our diplomas. We’ll walk – no, we’ll
strut - up the steps knowing that we can all achieve more than we’d ever
thought we could. We’ve learned that when you set yourself a goal – and
when you have the support of good friends and a warm welcome – there are
no limits to what you can do.
Terri, NUI Maynooth