Despite being closer in age to the tutor than my classmates and always ending up as the coordinator in group assignments, I actually found attending uni as a mature age student a blessing in disguise.

I walked in on my first day absolutely petrified. I’m sure you know the feeling: palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, there’s vomit on your sweater already – but it’s not mum’s spaghetti because you don’t live at your parents place anymore.

It’s not an experience only mature age students face, but unlike those straight from high school, we were not coached through the change. We didn’t have study tips fresh in our minds, hoards of friends to count on when we have a three-hour gap and the excitement of being released from the clamp of high school.

I started my uni life not understanding the difference between a tute and a lecture. I ended with never needing an extension, a distinction average and a record of handing in an assignment eleven days early. It didn’t take me long to realise my time away from school meant I was ready to take my education seriously.

#1 We Want To Be There

I woke up one day and decided to change the direction of my life, moving away from my job with a secure income towards higher education.

Studying an arts degree, my classes were full of middle-aged people who bumped their cushy corporate jobs to follow their dreams. Which is how us mature age students end up back at uni. We didn’t follow the status quo by treading a well-worn path. We didn’t just walk from one institution to another. Instead, we turned a whole boat around.

Sure, people may have the impression mature age students are annoying know-it-alls but changing a life plan is hard and scary.

#2 We Are Organised

I went shopping two months before uni started to get all my books and stationery. I wrote weekly to-do lists. I had three calendars: one in my diary, one digital and a whiteboard that lives above my desk.

But this was not just your run-of-the-mill cute stationery collection; mature aged students are more organised because we understand the importance of preparation and planning. Who’s down for a goal-setting session? We are!

Mature age students probably won’t wait until the weekend before starting an assignment or email the tutor two days before asking for an extension. We aren’t a burden; we’re a commodity.

#3 We Are Allies 

Being able to recognise your tribe physically is the best thing ever. In my first semester, it was easy to identify who was an ally and who I needed to avoid.

Talking to someone about the weekend you spent napping by the pool or visiting the new exhibition at the local art gallery is so much better than debating about who got the most hammered on Saturday night and the latest Kardashian gossip.

#4 We Have Direction

The years of working in jobs I didn’t want to do showed me exactly who I wanted to be. And this is often the case for mature age students. We know who we want to be and what we want to do with our time.

Mature age students learn through life experience (gasp!) what it’s like working full-time in a job you kind of hate. Therefore, we know there are more important things in the world than money or a cool job title.

So, fellow mature age students, keep your head held high! You have plenty to be proud of. So what if you came to the game late, haters gonna hate while you gonna graduate. Huzzah!

Kelly Walker is a creative writer and recovering bagel addict based in Melbourne. When she’s not writing or playing roller derby, she’s searching for the best smashed avo ever. She’s on Twitter at @kellywalker89 and promises to start tweeting, one day.

(Lead image: Community/NBC)