Dear Voice Editor,

I was delighted to read the editorial in The Voice, Vol 11 Issue 19 (http://www.ausu.org/voice/articles/featuredisplay.php?ART=1517) re: student finances. It was informative and I hold strong feelings about this, being a grandmother and a brand new AU student (just today). I don’t even have the materials for my Course NURS 438 – I don’t know who my tutor will be, but one thing I am sure of I am delighted to be able to take part in an open university.

I am an old girl, 52, and when I first went back to school in 1981, I was 30 years old. I needed to take academic upgrading, I did attend classes everyday, but I could work at my own speed. This was a good thing for me. I read fast. I need to be able to lead my own pace. Anyway I got my RN diploma with three small children ages 4, 6 and 8.

Now today I start the process of working on a degree. What a blessed thing modern technology is. I can access a wealth of material online. I can still work shift work and take a course. I could register, sign up for a course in a very short time. And I could speak to a student advisor on the telephone via a 1 800 #. I feel ecstatic. Gaye Duren-Purdy the student advisor was very helpful to me. I am prepared to work hard, I want the knowledge, but I am so grateful I can start learning and working toward my Degree starting on June 1st.

What a privilege it is to live at a time such as this. There are challenges in this world- many, and I have seen my share, but today, this day I have become an AU student and I am positively delighted.

Carolyn Vaughan RN
Nova Scotia

Thank you, Carolyn, for your enthusiastic words. You’re delight and your appreciation of the opportunities afforded by open university are wonderful reminder to all of us of what a tremendous opportunity we all enjoy. I wish you the best of luck in your studies.

Read a profile on Carolyn in this issue, as well as her first fiction contribution: The Transfer.