Never too late: 'When I went to my graduation, the kids were cheering. They were just so proud'

Name: Marion Wichmann
Age: 53
Recent graduate

Look, I’ve always been big on education. Having six children, I always believed it was really important that I set an example for them. Walk the talk. I’m always going on to them about the importance of education, and I thought, “I need to show them that learning never stops at any stage in your life.” They think I’m geriatric.

I wanted to get a degree. It’s something I always wanted to do. OK, it’s later in life but I can still pursue things. It doesn’t matter that I’m a bit older. I’ve had lots of friends that I’ve seen graduate from uni. I would watch them and think, gosh, I want that to be me.

Last December I graduated with a social science/social welfare degree from Charles Sturt University.

When I went to my graduation, the kids were cheering. They were just so proud. I had wondered whether my mother would still be alive to see me graduate. She’s 79. To see her there, and be a part of that, and for her to see her first child graduate from uni was amazing.

If you have a degree doors open up for you. I’m a welfare officer. I had a diploma in community social work in New Zealand, so I could practice as a social worker there. But when I came to Australia I couldn’t, because my qualification wasn’t recognised. I love where I am working now. I work in a hospital and I love working with people. But it can also be very limiting because there are certain things that I can’t do. Now that I have the degree, I know that I can go and work somewhere else and not only that, but get the pay increase that I think I deserve. I don’t want to leave. I find it really rewarding. My next job has to be a job that I really, really want to do. I can be selective now.

But it was tough. I studied on and off for 10 years to get this degree. I was working full-time, looking after six children – and with families come challenges.

I’ve always been a working mother. My eldest is 30. He has mild cerebral palsy and a mild developmental delay. My youngest is 16. I’ve got five boys and one girl. Five boys.

‘I’ve always given to my family. I do that in my work too. [The degree] was something for me.’ Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

My dad passed away when I was carrying my second child, and since then my mum has pretty much lived with me. She’s frail now. I have to take her to lots of medical appointments. My husband had a mild stroke in 2019. That was scary. So there was all those sorts of pressures. That’s why it took so long to get my degree, because I had to defer it, then come back, then stop and come back.

There were times when I thought, you know, don’t bother going back. I’d deferred so many times, I was thinking “Am I ever going to get through this?” Then I’d think, come on. You’ve got to finish this. I’m a person who when I’ve started something I have to finish.

I’ve always given to my family. I do that in my work too. This was something for me.

I guess I actually felt unfulfilled. I knew I wanted to practice as a social worker – I still haven’t got there – but I felt it was important for me to finish with a degree. That’s what I wanted.

It’s just been hard. I’ve had challenges with my children in their teenage years. Some big challenges to the point where your mental health starts to become impacted because of all the stuff you’re having to deal with. Then you go to work and you’re dealing with other people’s problems. It’s like the problems don’t go. It’s about trying to look after yourself so you can actually look after others. It’s a juggling act, I tell you.

I feared I wouldn’t actually finish my degree all the time. Ask my tutors! There were so many times I was so down, that I just basically hit rock bottom. Then I’d have my lecturers saying “Come on, Marion! You’re almost there! You’ve got two more assignments to go. You’ve got this. You can do this.” I was just so embarrassed, because I don’t know how many times I had to ask for extensions. I’m thinking: “Uni must think this lady is making this up.” I just thought, I’m not going to ask for another extension. I’m not going to ask for special consideration. It’s so embarrassing. But they encouraged me.

I consider myself a very strong woman, but I really was at a low. I’m not sure whether I could have done it without the support of the university. One night I just decided, “You know what, stop focusing on what’s going on here at home. Get that assignment done.” In two days I just smashed it out; I just did it and handed it in. I thought, “Oh, I did it.” I got my results and I couldn’t believe it. I said, “Am I really finished? Am I really done?” I couldn’t believe it.

Now I’m considering seeing how long it will take me to do the social work degree so I can be fully qualified as a social worker. I can’t believe it. I’m thinking, am I crazy? It might me two or three years. I’m thinking. I’ve already started making enquiries.

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