It is never too late to go back to school

By Manvir Kaur

A Windsor woman is not letting age and a family prevent her from earning a college diploma.

In 2016, around half of Canadians between 25 and 64 had college or university qualifications. Older women may find it more difficult to complete their studies if their lives are busy with work and family.

Dawn Dhillon, 52, is a student in the landscaping and horticulture program at St. Clair College. She started the course in September 2017 and will graduate this April after moving to Canada with her youngest two children, leaving her husband and three eldest children in the United Kingdom.

“I chose to start studying again because I was bored of my job as a hairdresser and wanted to start to start working on my real passion which is plants,” said Dhillon. “Therefore, I decided to start my journey towards building my own business.”

Dhillon said that she had savings from her job and her husband also helped with fees. During the day, her children are at school.  When she is at school late, they stayed with her brother-in-law.

She said she missed spending a lot of time with them and found it difficult to speak to her other three children as often as she wanted due to the time differences and everyone’s busy schedules.

“I found it difficult managing my time and trying to make myself available not only to myself, but my studies and my family,” said Dhillon. “I found it difficult trying to take on many different roles at once. I have learned a lot in my two years of studying but the most valuable thing I have learned is, if you put your mind to it, anything is achievable even if you are 50 years old when you start.”

Dhillon’s husband Jorge Dhillon, 53, is a decorator. He said that he did everything he could to help her be successful.

“I supported my wife by helping her, first of all with her college application. We both very confused about how to fill it in,” said Dhillon. “I was also nervous about her flying out with my two youngest children to study. I then helped her out with buying a house when she first arrived in the country and lastly, I supported her as much as I could emotionally by calling, texting and face timing every day to catch up whilst we were apart.

Jorge said he felt extremely proud of his wife. He was impressed she still wanted to take on education despite already having such a busy life.

“I managed quite well to begin with, but it was difficult being away from my wife for about half a year. I missed her and my two youngest children a lot. It was strange not having her around to help out with dinner and other things because she always knew what to make and how to keep everyone happy,” said Dhillon. “I struggled a lot doing this alone but eventually got the hang of it.”

Dhillon daughter Tara, 16, is currently in Grade 11.

“I moved here from London in August 2017. I began studying here in September,” said Tara. “I moved at first with my mother and my old brother. My father and my other two siblings later joined us. My mother also started college around the same time I did high school. It was weird at first because we stayed with my uncle when my mother was at college late. I had to start getting the bus at home which made me anxious at first but I sooner got used to it. I also started to cook for me and my brother more often.”

Tara said she had some difficulties with her mother being at college, mainly because she was not around as often to help her with homework or daily tasks.

“I feel like I matured during this process and I am happy and proud for her and what she has accomplished so far and I hope to see her start working as a horticulturalist very soon,” said Tara.

She says her mother is inspiring and hopes that she will be trust as determined as her mother.