Rebecca Bowen, History

"I returned to university at 43 to study history and found the experience one I would never have missed.  I had a career in banking and yet had always wanted to do a degree, so when I went to an open day at the university and had my interview and was accepted I jumped at the chance to go as a part time student.

The role of student and mother and carrying on life was a challenge and at times I realised that a degree was a hard earned achievement, however the support of staff, students and other support networks, not least my family, enabled me to go full time in my second year.

If you are able and have the ability to learn, then you could perhaps be granted a degree on that alone but it is the journey of university that develops the person, therefore the old saying "no pain no gain" certainly was poignant in me gaining my degree.  Therefore one could ask why do it? Well the journey of learning helps develop the person you are, the taking on of new roles and challenges helps to equip you to then go further after university ends.

Would I have missed it? No, the ability to develop and mix with people and to learn and embrace learning practises has helped make me look at life in a totally different way. As a mature student it was easy to fit in at Wolverhampton and furthermore the support structure made fitting this in around family life always an option.

The way staff made time to be available and helped with what seemed simple questions made the progression from year to year simpler.  The campus allowed time to meet and support fellow students of all disciplines.

Therefore would I do it again, yes, and with the market for jobs being critical at the moment, university allows you the insight on what is required for the workplace. I hope to return at some point to Wolverhampton and follow my studies in the form of a MA.  Perhaps that says more about the place than I can ever do."