“I found myself at a crossroads and I thought, I want to do something for me.”
After a successful career as a hairdresser, Tasha reached a turning point in her life that inspired a completely new direction. Having stepped away from salon life to care for her mother during a serious illness, Tasha found herself navigating the healthcare system from a personal perspective. The experience sparked a desire to make a difference in the lives of others.
“During that time of caring for my mum, I had to really push and advocate for her,” Tasha explains. “It just really resonated and inspired me to want to go ahead and do something, even if it’s just for one other person.”
As her daughter approached graduation from university, Tasha found herself reflecting on her own future. “I found myself at a crossroads and I thought, I want to do something for me,” she says. “As much as I love hairdressing, it feels like a hobby, and I really wanted to do something with a bit of meaning.”
At 45, returning to education was a significant step. Like many mature students, Tasha was concerned about whether she could successfully adapt to academic life again. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the coursework itself that proved most challenging. “I thought the biggest barriers were going to be the academic learning, but it was the systems and the tools that I hadn’t used or been shown,” she says, laughing. “I hadn’t really used a computer in that way before.”
Despite the challenges, the Access to Nursing and Human Sciences course at University Centre Truro & Penwith provided the support network she needed to thrive. “The teachers and lecturers have been amazing. They’ve been supportive and helpful,” she says. “We’ve all been in it together and that’s really important.”
The course has now opened the door to the next stage of her journey. Tasha has accepted a place on the Adult Nursing degree delivered at University Centre Truro & Penwith in partnership with the University of Greenwich. “I didn’t even realise Adult Nursing was offered here when I started the Access course,” she says. “When I found out, it felt like everything fell into place.”
For anyone considering returning to education later in life, Tasha has a simple message: “Just do it. It’s tough, but the support is incredible. You’re never too old.”
