A gran is doing an art college course at the age of 83…despite being told she was rubbish at it at school.
Heather Monaghan did it because her grandson Jake had completed it.
She wasn’t put off despite her teachers saying it was her weakest subject when she was at school seven decades ago.
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But Heather has now finished the first year.
She will continue the Higher Education Diploma in Art & Design in September.
She enrolled because she liked the sound of it when Jake did it at York College & University Centre.
The former domestic science teacher and education mentor said: “My grandson Jake, who is now at university, kept telling me about this art course and all the things he was doing.
“After hearing so much about it I asked him if he thought they took on older people like me.
“He found out and I learned it wasn’t a problem.
“Art was a new thing to me. I hadn’t done it since school where I was considered to be not very good.
“It had never even really been a hobby of mine.
“I’d done a bit of stone carving, but was always too busy for hobbies when I was working and had family commitments.”
Heather was advised that the access course would be the best one for her as no specific skills were needed to start, as reported on What’s The Jam.
She said: “That gave me the confidence to give it a go.
“Jake had left before I came, I wouldn’t have done that to him, but he’s fascinated by what I’m doing and can’t wait to see my work.
“I wasn’t particularly concerned about fitting into the group, but I did buy a pair of jeans and some clothes that I thought might make me invisible.
“But I have to say, I’ve been made to feel that my age really doesn’t matter.
“There are mainly young people on the course and two or three who are in their fifties, but once we go through the door we’re all treated the same.
“So many people as they get older give up on doing new things. But studying at my age gives you a real focus and is much more important than any aches or pains you might be feeling.
“This is a completely new area for me.
“At first I thought I probably can’t do this, which is why I only committed to paying a term at a time.
“I was a bit concerned at the beginning with digital art because my computer skills aren’t wonderful, but they’re better now and I can keep up pretty well.
“Most recently I’ve been doing reduction lino printing, which is completely new to me. But college is a brilliant place to come because the equipment, materials and tools are amazing, which means you get excellent results.”
She added: “I didn’t do a degree until I was in my seventies.
“I did Religion and Theology at York St John and I quite like the idea of doing another one.
“There are fees to consider, but this course is probably costing the same as a good fortnight’s holiday and I’m getting two years not two weeks.
“It’s also much more stimulating than being sat on a beach. If I do decide to do another degree I’d want it to be with York College because there is a breadth of opportunities here and I feel I have got so much to learn.”
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