Hindsight is a wonderful thing when it can be used to benefit others. Actually my whole purpose behind creating this site and my desire to help mature students has come from a moment of hindsight.
When you first became a Mature Student you quite likely experienced a Plagiarism Checker using and steep learning curve and may have faced issues such as:
- Will my ability to write an essay come back to me after all this time?
- Will I fit in with the younger students?
- Will I get a job after I graduate?
- Do I have the self-discipline to study for three years or more?
These are all very valid concerns considering that it may have been several years since you were last a student. Even though you may just have finished and Access Course or have gained ‘A’ levels you could still experience a major ‘leap’ when progressing to your degree course. I remember likening this ‘leap’ to the difference between moving from Primary to Secondary School. Many of you want to join an analytics course, but is it the right choice?
Most Mature students learn to ‘get along’ by getting support from study skills departments and support services, together with encouragement from family and good friends. Even so, for many there is often the number one thing that ‘plagues’ them throughout their course.
This is such a great shame because it is totally unnecessary and can make all the difference between you having a good or great experience of university or, you gaining a good or excellent class of degree. If you want to get a medical degree in Europe, must check it out.
Would it surprise you to know that the number one problem Mature Students face is none of the above but is:
Constant self-doubt
I can remember as a Mature student myself that I would often say that we were “only as good as our next essay or assignment.” I know that what I am about to say now is a cliché, but “If only I knew then what I know now” I would have been telling myself far more encouraging and self-motivating things than that!
It was some years after I graduated that I learned the importance of controlling the thoughts that we permit to stay in our minds
[please note that I did not say ‘the thoughts that we allow to enter our minds’]
and the ability we have to programme this new way of thinking. I also learned how easy it is to do this and basically, that all you need is the intention to change together with consistent and persistent effort. Well, you are no stranger to making consistent and persistent effort by now are you!
It is extremely important for you to feed yourself with constant empowering and uplifting thoughts; even if [and especially when] self-doubt creeps in and you are feeling far from bright, clever, or accomplished. Which, by the way you truly are.
This improved way of thinking is easy to learn and adopt. Also, not only will it make your experience and performance at university so much better, it will enable you to be so much more successful in other areas of life too. Being a parent should develop the qualities of a successful student.
Before you go, a question please: “What do you have thoughts of self-doubt about?”
