THE CHALLENGES OF RETURNING TO STUDY AFTER AGE 40: A DREAM OF BECOMING A UNIVERSITY STUDENT IN MIDDLE AGE

Abstract

Resuming one's studies after the age of 40 is about much more than earning a degree; it is about transforming deferred dreams into new possibilities for personal fulfillment, autonomy, and professional growth. This study analyzes the key challenges faced by adults particularly women who enter or return to higher education in middle age, highlighting both the obstacles and the potential inherent in this journey. It is a descriptive, qualitative literature review based on a search of scientific databases and relevant publications. The results indicate that balancing work, family, and studies, along with financial difficulties, technological adaptation, emotional insecurity, and ageism, can jeopardize a student's ability to remain in university. However, maturity, life experience, and determination facilitate the overcoming of these challenges. The study concludes that age does not limit learning and that welcoming institutions are essential for turning dreams into achievements.