From early retirement to lifelong learning

The opportunity to study came at just the right time for Paul. Upon a well-earned early retirement, he found that he finally had time to dedicate to the things that mattered most to him – his grandchildren, football and a long-standing love for history. Having heard of the OU through his own father many years before, he knew that it could be the perfect fit in balancing his many, varied interests; “OU study fitted well into my plans for educating myself further after avoiding study earlier in life”.

As it happened, Paul's steer away from study in his younger years would be the opposite of his experiences later. After leaving school, his formal education had focused less on his areas of passion and served more as a means to an end than as a labour of love. Now having the time to choose his own path, Paul decided to embark upon an MA in History with The Open University and to dig deeper into the subject he loved.

Throughout the course Paul found himself growing in confidence and positivity about what he could achieve, though his journey was not without its challenges. “My sister died after a long illness and I had to defer for a year, a difficult time and I needed the break, but I felt supported and able to come back and complete my studies.”

This time out proved vital in his determination to see things through to completion. Upon his return to study, he was then faced with the strange new world that was lockdown and a global pandemic. Rather than feeling deterred or defeated, Paul found solace in working on his TMAs; absorbing himself in research and committing to learning, all over again.

Buoyed by a recent Irish Cup win for his team and his success as an OU student; Paul has been able to marry his two loves together, now working as the Historian and Statistician for his local club. Paul is shaping up to become the go-to guy for all things history and research in his circle, with several local football history publications also in the pipeline – definitely the person we all need for trivia sessions!

Looking back at his experience so far, Paul has learned that while life’s circumstances can sometimes necessitate a pause, they don't have to signal an end; “OU study might not be right for someone at a particular time in their life for many reasons, but it can be absolutely right for anyone at some stage of their life”. The knack for study well and truly reignited, Paul hopes to continue his educational journey with a possible BA in Geography next. Following his enthusiasms and interests has led Paul towards the path of lifelong learning and shows that graduation doesn’t always need to mark the finish line.