After 13 years out of the workforce, being soccer mum, pizza mum, permanent volunteer and full-time carer for her eldest daughter, Susan Bruce felt she’d lost herself.
As she watched her former colleagues climb the corporate ranks, the Canadian mother-of-five decided it was time to return to work.
At the age of 48, when her youngest daughter was 9 years old, the former accountant decided to switch career and enrol in a postgraduate course at Sheridan College in Ontario, while working part-time.
However in 2011, after two years back in the workforce, tragedy struck the family when Susan’s eldest daughter Jessica passed away, aged 27.
“It was like being hit with a truckload of blocks and you’re completely thrown off your game,” said Susan. “Most of Jessica’s life I worried about if something happened to me who would take care of her. My whole plan with going back to university was to get a nanny who could also care for her for when I’m not here. I never imagined that she wouldn’t be here. The wind was sucked out of my sails and I didn’t know what to do.”
Susan left work to regroup and come to terms with the death of her child.
After six months out of work, she bumped into one of her professors in a local coffee shop, who suggested she come and teach at Sheridan College.
Hailing from a family of teachers, Susan mustered up her strength to take up the part-time teaching role. And from there it spurred her on to continue her education and embark on a Masters degree.
With a Bachelor degree from the United States and a postgraduate qualification from Canada, Susan was drawn to the Masters of Human Resource Management at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Australia through online education.
After researching number of universities in Canada – flexibility, cost and exposure to business in the Asia-Pacific steered her towards CSU.
We spoke to Susan about returning to work after 13 years, her experience studying the Master of Human Resource Management with CSU and what it has meant for herself, her family and her career.
What motivated you to go back to work and further study?
After 13 years out of the workforce it got to the stage where I said, ‘oh my goodness, who am I anymore? I don’t have career, I’m a mum and a care giver’. And even though I love my children so much, I was losing who I was. So I think it’s important for anybody, male or female, to have a way of giving back that motivates you. Whether it’s through charity or through work where you’re making a difference in the world. And education certainly helps with that.
So, tell us about the Masters degree. How long did it take and what does an average week look like?
It takes about two-and-a-half years part-time. I would dedicate two evenings a week and an eight-hour day at the weekends where I would say to the kids that I’m off limits. It was hard for them at first but they’re not babies any more. My boys are now at university doing their Bachelor degrees and in my mind I think it’s motivating them and helps me understand what they’re going though. I say to them, yes, it is hard, it is tough but let’s get back to the grindstone boys.
You‘re based in Canada and CSU is in Australia. What’s been the challenge of online education?
You have to be very self-motivated and good with managing your time. Because it’s online learning, you are able to procrastinate if you’re not self-motivated and I have fallen in to that trap a couple of times.
And the greatest benefit of online education?
The number one is the flexibility. I can do it whenever, wherever and at my own pace. You can join online discussion boards at any time of the day or night. I think not being constrained by classrooms is the way of the future.
How do you create a relationship with your classmates?
Most professors get you to login to the discussion board and introduce yourself and talk to each other. The same names come up, you post comments, critique each other – you get to know people. You can see them, see the class, see the questions going up in the chat. If I attended a physical class I probably would be more the listening and observing student anyway, so I don’t feel I’m missing out.
Was online learning a daunting prospect? Do you need to be tech savvy?
When I started back at university I didn’t even have a cell phone. Because I’m older technology isn’t my forte and it was one of the more intimidating parts of choosing online education. “What’s a discussion board? I don’t even know,” I asked myself when I first started my Masters.
CSU does an excellent job of providing all types of tutorials so that if you don’t know how to do something, they provide a step-by-step guide to assist you. So if you haven’t been in the academic world for 10 or 20 years – don’t let it daunt you. Even though you’re learning online, you’re not alone. For me it was the fear of the unknown but once you get into it, it’s so easy. If I can do it, anybody can do it.
So after five children, volunteering, a full-time job and study – have you found the secret to work/life balance?
I don’t think I could have done it when my children were teeny tiny. My youngest now is 15, she was nine when I started. At the age they are now, it forces them to take ownership for more things in the house and I’ve used this to say to them that they need to be more independent. It’s something I want to do for myself so I have to make the time.
How do you feel since you embarked on the Masters?
I feel happier. This is something I’m doing for myself, it makes me more useful in the workplace and I think it’s a win, win, win. I’m not always there to cook dinner and the kids might have to step in and help out but, in the long run, my kids can look back and say – my mum did that. I hope they see that you can be a working mum and study. My eldest son even said to me, “I can see myself being a stay-at-home dad if my wife has a great career that she is going forward with.” I’m hoping that all my children see that there’s a benefit to mums having something that they’re working towards.
How has the Master of Human Resource Management benefited your career?
From my experience, when you have a Masters, in the workplace people recognise that you’ve got the most recent and current information that’s out there. My director who I report to in my part-time job is very interested in my studies and I’ve been able to offer information and advice that I have gained through my studies. Studying has allowed me to identify trends and new ways of thinking.
So, say for example I’m a 45-year-old woman considering a new career and want to develop my skills through online learning. What advice would you give me or what questions should I ask myself before starting?
Start with believing in yourself. Ask yourself, what do I really want? Focus on the area of study that you are interested in. If you’re afraid, embrace it and break the fear. Go with it anyway. Online education does scare some people because of the technology – it certainly did for me. But it’s not that hard. It’s so user-friendly and is not something to be afraid of. All the support systems at CSU are there to help you. Even with the time difference, I have a live librarian and professors I can ask questions.
You need to also ask yourself whether you can you block off some time from your family, your friends and your work for yourself to benefit your career.
I had some great advice when I was in my second year at university and dealing with a tough time and thinking of dropping out. One of my professors said to me: “So four years from now you could have a Bachelor degree if you keep plugging along with it or four years from now you could have nothing.”
It was great advice. Don’t dwell on the long-term. The time is going to pass regardless. Pretend you’re a car on a dark road – only look as far as your headlights can see. There were times I thought “I can’t, I can’t”, but if you work through one class at a time you will get there. And here I am soon to cross the finish line with a Masters degree. Once you have it, nobody can take it away from you.
Charles Sturt University helps women study online to achieve their career dreams. It has a wide range of courses and flexible options to ensure study suits your varying needs.