In this blog post, Vikki Connolly, our Year 2 student (2025-2026), has written a beautifull account of returning to university. From self-doubt and nerves to completing her first year, it’s a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered if it’s too late to chase a dream.

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be studying for BA Childhood Studies at Edinburgh University at the age of 48, I would have laughed and shaken my head. Becoming a teacher was always a quiet dream tucked away at the back of my mind, but I convinced myself I was too old, too busy, too…. everything.  It felt like something other people did, people who were younger, more confident, and somehow more “qualified” to take that leap.

But life has a funny way of nudging you forward when you least expect it. In my case, the nudge came in the form of my best friend, who had just completed her own teacher training. She saw something in me that I struggled to see in myself. One day, after yet another conversation about how much I loved working with children and how I wished I’d trained years ago, she simply pressed the send button on my application. No countdown, no hesitation – she just did it. And honestly, I’m so grateful she did.

Walking into university on that first day was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life. On the train into Edinburgh, I met two people who were also starting the same course. We ended up chatting the whole journey.  That simple moment, three strangers suddenly connected by nerves, excitement, and a shared destination eased so much of the pressure. By the time we walked onto campus together, I didn’t feel alone anymore.

One of the biggest surprises of this journey was discovering that I wasn’t the “older student” I had imagined myself to be. In fact, many of my classmates were around the same age, bringing their own rich life experience, work backgrounds, and motivation for returning to study. That instantly made everything feel more comfortable and familiar. We understood each other’s responsibilities, families, jobs, caring roles and the juggling act that comes with adult life.  There was no judgement, just mutual respect and a shared determination to succeed.  Together, we built a supportive, encouraging community.  We swapped notes, shared study tips, and laughed through the moments when academic reading felt like trying to decode a foreign language.

My tutors have been just as supportive. They’ve guided me with patience, reassured me when I doubted myself, and pushed me to think more critically.  Their belief in me has made such a difference.

I won’t pretend it’s all been easy.  Writing essays again after so many years was a real challenge.  Academic reading was tough, dense, complex, and sometimes overwhelming. There were moments when I wondered if I’d ever get the hang of it. But I kept going. I learned how to structure arguments, reference properly, and read with purpose instead of panic. Every assignment I submitted felt like a small victory, proof that I could do this after all.

Now that I’ve completed my first year, I’m genuinely proud of how far I’ve come. I have two more years to go, and then I hope to complete my teacher training. For the first time, that dream feels real and within reach.

Starting this degree at 48 has taught me something important: it’s never too late – not to learn, not to grow, and not to chase your dream. If anything, doing it later in life has made me appreciate the journey even more.

So here I am, a first- year student, a future teacher, and someone who finally pressed “go” on a dream. And if you’re reading this wondering whether it’s too late for you too, trust me.  It isn’t.

What I Know Now That I Wish I’d Known Then / BA Childhood Practice_Blog by is licensed under a