Last time I was here, I promised I’d be back after Tuesday. That Tuesday was… nearly two months ago. Oops. In my defence (I have a feeling this is going to be a theme…), life got away from me. Assignments became exam board meetings, which became waiting, which became obsessively refreshing my emails… and before I knew it, the HNC I have been talking about was over.

The good news is, it was all worth it. Every practical, presentation, referencing session that made my eyes cross and a medically questionable amount of Pepsi Max and/or Club Lemon somehow got me across the finish line of my HNC. I even managed to earn an overall Distinction. I’ll tell you that story properly another time because, believe me, I have 2 years worth of material on that one… It will be my “Origin Story” and it will be EPIC…. in time. Right now though, something exciting has landed in my inbox and I simply have to share it with you all – my loyal and devoted readers. (Hi Mum!)

Can I get a drumroll? bdrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr………… I’m officially going to Queen’s University Belfast to study Biomedical Science.

Just look at that screenshot, sitting there all official in black and white.

It still doesn’t quite feel real. Since I got the HNC results (that confirmed I’d more than met the requirements of my offer for QUB) it felt like my life consisted of refreshing UCAS, checking my emails every five minutes and convincing myself that every day the update didn’t come probably meant something catastrophic had happened. Turns out, sometimes administrative processes are just, well, administrative processes and these things take time. Who knew?!

Now, all of a sudden, September feels ridiculously close and I am no longer convinced I possess anything resembling sanity.

Am I excited? Yes.

Nervous? Definitely.

Terrified? Haven’t completely ruled it out to be honest.

The funny thing is, 2 years ago I genuinely wasn’t sure if I was capable of studying again, even part time. After more than twenty years away from education, I wondered if I’d forgotten how to learn or whether my brain had quietly retired without sending me the memo. It turns out it hadn’t. All it needed was a chance and a good workout to get the old cogs turning again… Don’t get me wrong, I’m under no illusion that university is going to be easy. It’s about to get a whole lot harder I’m sure!

So here we are. Forty-something. Officially a mature Uni student (although I reserve the right to question the “mature” part from time to time). Future Biomedical Science student at Queen’s, and still making it up as I go along. And somehow, despite all the overthinking, the waiting and the occasional wobble, I can’t help but feel like I am EXACTLY where I’m supposed to be.

Now, opinions… is buying another notebook is an investment in my education… or just a stationery addiction.