64-year-old mother and grandmother fulfills lifelong dream

Maureen Adkin remembers the day vividly. At age 10, she came home with a straight A report card and her father asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“I want to be a nurse,” Adkin replied at the time. “With grades like these, you could be a doctor,” said her dad. “Girls can be anything they want to be.”

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Adkin remembered her late father’s words as she walked across the stage at the Port Theatre June 3 to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College.)

“I’ve been waiting my whole life to do this,” said Adkin, 64, who graduated with distinction with a double minor in Liberal Studies and Psychology. “This is such a profound moment in my life.”Adkin is one of Malaspina’s oldest graduates.

“I’m really proud of my mom,” said daughter Leesa Anderson, who made a special trip from North Vancouver for the graduation ceremony along with several family members. “Mom is such an inspiration. It’s wonderful to see her following her dreams.”

Life circumstances forced Adkin to postpone her dream of pursuing a university education when she was younger. Her father died when she was 13, and with a grade nine education, she had to work to help support the family.

Adkin grew up in Victoria, married young, raised five children, divorced and struggled for several years as a single mom. Later, she married for a second time and became a step mother to four more children, and a foster parent to a few more.  “My second husband and I raised 11 kids,” she said. “We operated a farm in Langley, and kept a huge garden. I took care of most of the farm chores, looked after the kids, and handled my husband’s books for his medical practice.”

At the time, in 1978, Adkin tried to rekindle her dream of attending university but the timing wasn't right. “I’d milk the cow in the morning, do other farm chores, get the kids off to school, get myself ready and head to class at Douglas College,” she said. “I did it for a year but realized this was insane. There’s only so much a person can do.”

When her second marriage ended, Adkin moved to California and became a successful real estate agent. In 1993, she moved to Nanaimo and built and operated the Olde Firehall Coffee Roasterie on Victoria Road in Nanaimo. She closed it five years later during an economic downturn and devoted her time to being a full-time caregiver for her mother and nine-year-old granddaughter.  “It’s what I needed to do,” she said.

At age 58, Adkin felt her life had reached another crossroad. One night, while enjoying a glass of wine and her favourite concerto, she thought back to a happy time when she was in school.

 “I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather be doing,” she said. “I decided I was going to finally earn a degree. It was time to invest in myself.”

Adkin spoke with advisors at VIU's Nanaimo campus (formerly Malaspina), and began taking university classes. She started out majoring in Psychology but struggled with math.

She turned to her professors for guidance and support, and it was Norm Cameron who inspired her to pursue Liberal Studies. “He pointed out that I love to research, write and state my opinion, and he was right,” said Adkin.

“The Liberal Studies program gives you a well rounded education. It’s like a think tank that helps you discover who you are. I’m not living in a vacuum anymore. Earning my degree has taken me out of isolation. I have gained tremendous insight into myself, culture, the world and people. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.”

As a mature student returning to school, Adkin admits that some days she was nervous and afraid. “I didn’t know if I’d be accepted because of my age. I was usually the oldest in my classes, even older than some of my professors. I like to think I added a different dimension to our discussions.”

Adkin said her parents that had the biggest influence on her decision to return to school, even years later. “My father’s belief in me really made a difference, and my mother saw that I had huge potential,” she said.

She was also inspired by a complete stranger she met by chance in a peach orchard. “He told me the next five years of my life would pass by quickly no matter what I did or didn’t do. The message was clear – stop putting things off.”

It’s a message Adkin took to heart. This summer, she's learning how to draw. In the fall,  she plans to take two upper level psychology courses as prerequisites for graduate school.  Her new goal is to earn a Master's in counselling. 

As a life-long learner, Adkin has some sage advice for others who may be thinking about returning to school. She points to quotations posted around her house for inspiration:  “Face your fears and do it anyway. If you have a dream, follow it. You’re not a spectator in life, you’re a participant. This isn’t a dress rehearsal, so just do it.”

Her favourite quote comes from philosopher and poet Henry Thoreau: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”

“I can honestly say that I am,” added Adkin. “And it sure feels great.”