Kathy has prepared for her retirement by taking an acupuncture course. She tells us how getting over her initial lack of confidence was well worth it…

Name: Kathy Hilditch
Course: BSc in Acupuncture
Institution: London College of Traditional Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (LCTA)

‘I am due to retire in two year’s time (from my job as a barristers’ clerk) and have had enough of commuting. When I thought about retirement, I found it hard to imagine leaving work and then waking up with nothing to do, so I decided I needed to find something for after my retirement.

I first experienced acupuncture a few years ago when I went for treatment to alleviate menopausal symptoms and I became interested in how it can change you in a completely natural way. I found the whole concept fascinating and suddenly decided that that’s what I wanted to do.'

Returning to learn
I went to a presentation day at the College to find out more and was hooked. I knew it was what I wanted to do, but the thought of going back to studying was terrifying. I left school at 16 with a few O-levels and although I had done a City and Guilds upholstery course a few years ago with my daughters, I felt that I hadn’t really achieved anything. Although I’ve always thought that I could achieve something if I put my mind to it, I lacked the confidence to do anything about it.  

Student life
Going to college really encroaches on your weekends and in the first year I found it hard to adapt and get into the swing of it. It wasn’t just the volume of work; it was also weird to be with a group of people I didn’t know. It threw me for a bit, but I am really pleased that I stuck with it. I know that it was a lot to do with my confidence – I didn’t think I was as good as everyone else and I thought quite seriously about giving up. It was only when I realised that I was no different from anyone else and that I just needed to work hard that I relaxed into it. Passing my exams gave me the biggest high I can remember for a very long time.  

Practice makes perfect
I want to have my own practice when I qualify but for the moment, I am enjoying the learning process. They ask me about the course at work and some of them are already interested in me treating them once I qualify. I’m sure I have been influenced by my surroundings – it’s a very academic environment as barristers spend their whole lives studying and I’m certain that mentality has rubbed off on me over the past 14 years. I will probably still be studying when I am 90, but for the moment, I am going to concentrate on finishing this course and see where it takes me.’