Mature Students
A realistic Guide to life at UCLan - written by students!
by Belinda, 2nd year, BA (Hons) English Language and Literature
University definition of 'mature student' = over 21.
OED [Oxford English Dictionary] definition of 'mature student' = adult student who is older than most students.
Older than most, taller than most, blonder than most, cleverer than most...? Do we really need special categorisation? Possibly so, for administration purposes but what I have found is that we don't need a special club. At 46 I could be categorised as vintage and I was initially interested in such a club but after beginning uni life I realised this was unnecessary.
On my first day I found a lovely new best friend in the form of fellow blonde Literature student Kate aged 21 and our trio was complete with the addition of Sonia (blonde, Language) aged in her mid thirties. I mix with all the teens and twenty year olds and it seems that at university age is irrelevant because here like minded people come together to study subjects they love. Okay so I have not yet attended Promo Nite but I have taken part in wall climbing ( and when I say wall I am referring to a small skyscraper) and pole dancing, thanks to the Student Union Give it a Go events.
Taking part is one of the reasons I chose UCLan; I wanted to enjoy the many opportunities offered here and I have really pushed myself out of the comfort zone by volunteering to be a Course Representative and a Student Ambassador. I love being at UCLan and so I enjoy being able to pass on that enthusiasm to new and potential students.
There have been opportunities to volunteer for the NSPCC and so with another student (age 19 ) I donned fancy dress (see pic) whilst loitering at BnQ. We raised quite a bit of cash and were rewarded with a certificate and thanks at an English Language Studies Initiative for Employability (ELSIE) event for which I had also volunteered. So my advice is go for it, get involved in whatever you love and friends of all ages will find you.
OED definition of 'mature' adult = with fully developed powers of body and mind!
