Pursuing Education During Perimenopause Opened New Possibilities

I was sitting in a college classroom at 48 years old surrounded by 20-year-olds and I felt terrified and exhilarated. I had always wanted to go back to school but I thought it was too late. I thought I was too old. I thought I should be winding down, not starting something new. Then perimenopause made me question everything I thought I should be doing. And I decided to do something I actually wanted to do. I enrolled in college. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

How I got here

I had gone straight to work after high school. I had never been to college. I had always regretted that. For 30 years, I had thought about going back to school but I thought it was too late. I thought I was too old. I thought it was impractical. Then perimenopause started and I was forced to reassess my life. I realized I had spent 30 years doing what I thought I should do. I had spent 30 years putting off what I actually wanted to do. If I did not do it now, when would I do it?

What I actually did

I researched colleges that offered programs for adult learners. I found a university that had evening and online classes. I decided to study environmental science because it had always fascinated me. I enrolled. The first semester was hard. I was worried I was not smart enough. I was worried I would not fit in. I was overwhelmed by coursework. But I also felt more alive than I had in years. I was learning. I was engaged. By the second semester, I had found my rhythm. I made friends. I got good grades. I realized I was absolutely smart enough. By graduation, I had transformed my sense of what was possible.

What actually changed

My sense of possibility expanded. I had thought my best years were behind me. I had thought perimenopause meant decline and contraction. Instead, it meant expansion and growth. I got my degree. I got a new job in environmental science that I loved. My mood improved. My sense of purpose improved. My anxiety decreased. I was no longer thinking about decline. I was thinking about possibility.

What my routine looks like now

I work in environmental science. I continue to learn and grow. I mentor younger students. I track my overall wellbeing using PeriPlan and I notice that my wellbeing is best when I am learning and challenging myself. Going back to school during perimenopause was one of the best gifts I could have given myself.

If you have always wanted to do something but thought it was too late, perimenopause might be the catalyst for action. You are not too old. It is not too late. This is the perfect time to pursue what you actually want. This is not medical advice about perimenopause. But pursuing meaningful goals is medicine for your soul.