Karen Joan Armstrong
My name is Karen and I returned to Trinity as a mature student in October 2002. I left school with a reasonable Leaving Cert but had never “applied” myself in school and consequently had no idea what I really wanted to be when I grew up! Now at the age of 41 I still haven’t grown up (and who really wants to!) but I do finally know what I want to be – better late than never!
I have always envied my friends who went to University as I started working at aged 18 and never experienced the highs and lows of student life. I was curious to see if I had what it took to succeed in Academia. Trinity College was the only University I wanted to attend as I was and still am in awe of its history, reputation, architecture, and location. I still get those lovely butterflies when I walk through main arch onto the cobblestones and one can almost see the bicycles and gowns of bygone days and soak up the atmosphere that seems to exude history at every step.
I study Occupational Therapy in the Faculty of Health Science.
In 2005 following the birth of my daughter I took two years “off books” to be a stay at home Mother. This year I have returned to complete my degree and am nearly there! For me, the highs of being a Trinity student far outweigh the lows. As a mature I worried about fitting in, about finding places, about accessing the library, what to wear! All of it was a source of worry for me in that dreaded first term, but I soon made friends and those friends have been younger students with whom I had the most in common. The worries faded away as I was accepted for who I am and not for what age I am. The fun and the help I have had and received during my time in Trinity stay in my memory and make me smile. The long hours and hard work are part of any job or course and is the stuff of achievement and ultimately success. As a mature with a family, support is vital and I can say that I would not have come this far without the unwavering and very patient support of my husband.
If you have any kind of dream to come back to University I say GO FOR IT, have fun and live the dream that is Trinity College, Dublin.