It was in 1976 that I entered university. I had worked for pay as a teacher and with travel organizations. But in 1976, when my youngest son entered high school, I felt it was time to think of my future. I was 43, had at least 20 working years left in me and thought 'what better way to enter the work-for-pay world than with a degree?' While my children were at elementary school, I had become involved in their education, as an active member of the parents' movement. As president of school committees I realized I needed more information to be able to meet the administration (school and school board) on an equal footing. So it was that in 1976 I entered university and took my first course towards a master's degree in Educational Administration.

The class consisted mostly of teachers who were aspiring to become principals, a few nurses who wanted to become involved in professional development, a school board member and me. All of them, except me, were earning money.

The professor who admitted me to the program assured me: "If you apply yourself there should not be any problem." And did I apply myself! I worked hard, taking one course at a time, writing position papers, doing statistics and gearing up for the finale - the thesis. Meanwhile, I presented briefs for local groups at provincial hearings on adult education and on the restructuring of the elementary school system. I graduated in 1982, ready to tackle the world.

The work world, however, wasn't ready for me. I found that jobs were hard to come by. I was close to 50 and had no tangible experience. I was competing with people who had 15 to 20 years of educational slogging behind them. Any network I might have developed was uprooted when my husband was transferred and I went with him. The jobs I did manage to find were - you guessed it - part-time and low paying. I was a hostess for Elderhostel; I taught English 120 at a local university; I did research for the provincial Status of Women council. I loved the work but the pay did not reflect the time and energy involved.

At CCLOW we talk about education leading to economic independence. That is a worthwhile goal, but, in light of my experience, I wonder how much formal university education will contribute towards that goal once you have reached a certain age. Can we reasonably expect an employer to hire someone with no practical experience at the age of 55? If you want the satisfaction of an earned degree, of acquiring new knowledge, of an opening up of the world, take courses and enjoy them. But if your goal is economic independence, I would suggest you look for market-oriented courses, usually available at the community college level. And if taking courses isn't for you, why not try the kinds of learning women have been doing for a long time through fundraising, political involvement at local, regional and national levels; and advocacy for those in need. We don't learn by degrees alone.