The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AT the age of 62, some people are preparing themselves for retirement, spending time at vacation spots around the world, rearing grandchildren or just doing things they never got the opportunity to do in their youth.

None of these things fell on the list of things to do for Elizabeth Munnings. While other people were engaging in those activities, Ms Munnings was burning the midnight oil doing home-work, along with class projects, and preparation for term exams

Three years ago Ms Munnings enrolled at the College of the Bahamas for the second time, to pursue a pre-school auxiliary certificate. Last year, she successfully completed the programme, despite the many humps and bumps along the way.

Ms Munnings is also a book author, song writer and poet. Her Poem “Time” was published in the National Library of Poetry’s “Treasured Token” book in 1997, which also features the work of other poets around the world. Ms Munnings recently released a book of short stories titled “From My Treasure Chest”.

Ms Munnings’ decision to return to school, did not come without opposition from family members and close friends, who at times told her “you don’t need to go back to school; you too old for that’.

“You are never too old to stop learning. They told me that going back to school was not something I needed to do because I was already working. They were stuck in their old ways. But I went back to school because I love learning and that is something that you can do continuously.”

“A lot of people are afraid of change. I am not. I wanted to keep up with technology and time and I felt there is still a lot more I need to learn. No one ever reaches the point where they stop learning,” she told Tribune Woman.

Ms Munnings said she was not moved by what her family and friends thought about her going back to school. She said she knew what she wanted and was determined to reach her goal no matter what.

The very first time she attended COB was in 1974 when she pursued several banking courses. At that time, college was much easier than it is today, because students were allowed to do one subject at a time, Ms Munnings said.

The thought of being in the class once again, after all those years, made Ms Munnings nervous. She said she thought she would not be able to do the work required, since it had been a long time. However, it was much better than she anticipated.

Starting COB in 2009 was different from the COB she attended in 1974. At that time, she was not the elder a room seated next to young faces.

“The classes had older and younger persons every time. I did not mind. I can relate to young and old. It was good because everyone can learn from each other. Other people who were my age or a little younger felt embarrassed to be in the class with younger people. But I had no problem with that. I actually liked being in a class with younger people because anything I did not understand I would ask them and they explained it to me,” she said.

“At times it got rough. There were many times I felt like quitting because the work was difficult. Every time I did not do as well as I hoped to do on certain assignments I wanted to quit. But I stuck with it until I was finished,” she told Tribune Woman.

Ms Munnings also had to deal with the loss of her grandson during her time in COB. As a result she had to take an extended break from school.

Although it was a long rough road, Ms Munnings said she is proud of what she was able to accomplish at her age. “There is no shame in education,” she said.

 “Older persons who want to go back to school must believe that they can do it. There is no shame in education. You are not too old or young to learn.”  

“When we are young we rush into things. We feel that it won’t be long before we get old. I encourage young persons to take their time, learn their lessons. There is a time for everything. Do not quit school but finish. Years down the road they will appreciate that they did.”