My Journey - Maria Pascoe
Maria explains how she never gave up on her dream to study and achieve a long-held ambition by returning to education
Maria’s story
- Maria has realised her ambitions by studying a BSc in Adult Nursing
- Has successfully juggled study and family life
- Feels that being a mature learner has given her resilience
- Has plans to go on to further study
Studying something medical-related was always in my plans. However, life had different plans for me. leaving Wales and returning to Chile, my place of birth, those options were taken away from me and instead I studied psychology.
Having prepared my GCSEs and A-levels in all the science subjects in Wales, this was not something I found easy to overcome and accept in Chile, my motherland, and I was left with the frustrations of not having fulfilled my medical vocation.
Unfulfilled ambition
On my return to the UK, getting married and having a family, this was always something that was in the back of my mind and felt the need to fulfil one day. As my children grew, so did my frustrations and ambitions. I have lived a very full life and have been blessed with many experiences and a wonderful family but returning to my vocation was something I felt the need to achieve. After all, how could I teach my children to follow their hearts and dreams, if I wasn’t prepared to do the same?
Three years ago, I contacted the University of Gloucestershire and to my surprise the BSc Adult Nursing application interviews were the following week. Some might say it was meant to be. My journey hasn’t been an easy one, although I think learning as a mature adult is never easy due to all our other responsibilities. Bringing up two teenage boys and training through a pandemic wasn’t something I thought I would ever do. Although there have been times where I have found things tough, I wouldn’t change it for the world. If anything, the experience has made me stronger, shown me how resilient I can be and how much I still have left to give as a person.
Revealing new skills
This experience has also shown me that I have other important skills which are just as important: life skills! I have made lifelong friends, opened my world to more opportunities and shown my children that it’s never too late to learn or give up on your dreams.
My husband, family and friends have supported me along the way, giving me the push to keep going when I’ve been close to giving up. I would recommend anyone thinking of studying as a mature student to go for it! Its better to give it a go, than live with the ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’.
And now I’m hooked, I am planning my next steps to further my studies!