Mike: I’m 39 now and I resumed my studies when my son started Grade One. Now I’m very happy that I made up my mind to do this. I’ll be graduating in April and hopefully start teaching high school English in September.

Mary: What had you been doing before you went to university?

Mike: I had been doing administrative work for 13 years, straight out of high school. I had got very tired and fed up with the low pay and the monotonous nature of the work. So I started university.

Mary: That’s a right decision, indeed. As for me, I went to university at more or less the normal age. I was actually 21 at the time. But I did so miserably that the university suggested that I not return. Since then I’ve been basically wasting my time.

Mike: And what are your plans?

Mary: You see, one day I was fiddling around on the web and found some information about distance learning. It’s fabulous if you can’t take the time out to go to people-⁠ridden classes, because you can work it around your own schedule.

Mike: Yes, I think the fact that you can do the work in your own space and your own time is really helping.

Mary: Of course, I will have deadlines to meet, but they’re not the same as the in-⁠class sort. Handing things in doesn’t depend on anyone else’s office hours or class times, which is really handy. I will only have to contact my tutors when I want to or need to, or when I’m required to do an oral quiz or exam.

Mike: I think it’s a very good idea. Going to university was the best thing I have ever done. I found it was more fun than I expected, and the benefits outweighed the disadvantages. I learned so much about myself, and I’m very proud of my accomplishments!

Mary: And I expect my ability to study to be much better than it used to be and things come much more easily. While I still see doing some of the work as a chore, at least this time around I’m actually enjoying it.