It’s Never Too Late: Jimena’s Inspiring Return to College at age 47
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For many adults, the prospect of going back to school can seem daunting and, for some, impossible. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Hear firsthand how realistic this goal can be from a real Penn Foster graduate. Jimena Colmenares, a graduate of our Healthcare Management Associate Degree Program, shares her experience going back to school at 47, the challenges she faced, and what drove her to succeed in this blog post.
Key Takeaways
- It’s never too late to go back to school. Jimena enrolled in Penn Foster’s Healthcare Management Associate Degree Program at 47 and graduated at 51, proving that age should never stop someone from pursuing education and personal growth.
- Flexibility and support can make education possible for adult learners. Between work, family responsibilities, and learning in her second language, Jimena faced significant challenges. Penn Foster’s online, self-paced format and supportive instructors helped her balance school with the rest of her life.
- Going back to school can build confidence and open new opportunities. Earning her degree helped Jimena grow both personally and professionally. She became more confident, fulfilled a lifelong dream, and discovered that perseverance and determination can lead to meaningful success.
Meet a healthcare management graduate
Jimena Colmenares enrolled in Penn Foster’s Healthcare Management Associate Degree Program when she was 47. She graduated from the program in 2022 at the age of 51. Originally from Peru, she has been living in Miami, Florida for the past 21 years with her husband. They have two adult children.
Jimena has a history working in the healthcare field and wanted to challenge herself and grow within her industry. After ten years of working at a children’s hospital as an Assessment Coordinator in the Psychology Department, she decided to enroll in our program.
Life before going back to school
Sometimes the decision to go back to school isn’t the result of needing a drastic change, or to improve a challenging financial situation. Sometimes it’s simply a desire for something different or something more.
This was the case for Jimena. “Before I enrolled at Penn Foster, my life was good, but I felt that something was missing,” she shares. “I had a certificate in medical terminology, Medical and Billing coding, EKG technician, Phlebotomy technician, and Certified Medical Assistant. I wanted to challenge myself and do something that would help me grow and improve my work. At the time, I had already been working at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for 10 years as an Assessment Coordinator in the Psychology Department. I was balancing work, family, and personal goals, but I knew I needed to take the next step. Enrolling gave me the opportunity to grow, learn, and feel truly accomplished.”
What inspired the career change?
Inspiration can come from anywhere. For Jimena, her drive was self-motivated. “I started thinking about making a change because I knew I wanted to continue my education. I wanted to grow, improve myself, and take the next step in my life.”
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where she worked, offered tuition reimbursement for employees, a perk many companies actually provide! “When I found out that I could receive reimbursement by maintaining good grades,” she explains, “I felt that this was the opportunity I had been waiting for. At that moment, I made the decision to apply and enroll at Penn Foster. It was a very important step for me, and one that I am very proud of.”
Read more: Real Grads, Real Stories: How Amanda Rewrote Her Story with Penn Foster
Overcoming doubts about going back to school at 47
There’s a lot to consider when thinking about going back to school as an adult, and it can be difficult not to let doubt cloud your decisions. Despite knowing she wanted to continue her education and challenge herself, Jimena wasn’t immune to doubts. She shared what was going through her head at the time with us.
“I definitely had doubts. At 47, I wondered if I would be able to finish the program, balance work, home responsibilities, and school, and succeed in all my classes. I was also concerned about understanding the terminology in English. But even with those doubts, I knew I wanted to grow and challenge myself. I decided to move forward anyway, and that experience taught me that it is never too late to believe in yourself and keep learning.”
Is it ever too late to go back to school?
The short answer: no!
At Penn Foster, we know that education milestones can be achieved at any age. We’ve had people of all ages enroll in our programs! That doesn’t mean they all always thought they could, though. Even Jimena felt it might have been too late for her to take this step.
“I did feel that way at first. I wondered if I was too late to go back to school because many people start much younger.” She used past experience, however, to help make her ultimate decision. “But I did not have the opportunity to attend university when I was younger,” she explains. “So when this opportunity came, I knew I had to take it. I do not regret it at all. I am very happy that I earned my associate degree, and I am proud of myself for taking that step.”
She goes on to share how important going back to school was to her. “Looking back, I can honestly say it was absolutely worth it. I do not regret it at all. It reminded me that it is never too late to learn, grow, and achieve something meaningful.”
Read more: 6 Tips for Going Back to College or Career School as an Adult
Why she chose Penn Foster
Once the decision to go back to school is made, it’s important to do research to see what school is best for you. Some adults are able to fit classes at a brick-and-mortar college into their schedules, but that’s simply not realistic for those who are juggling, work, kids, and their home. That was the case for Jimena, who opted for an online program that would allow her to learn at her own pace while keeping up with her other responsibilities. Here’s what she had to say about her research process that ultimately led her to Penn Foster:
“When I began researching programs, I was looking for something that truly connected with the work I was already doing and could help me grow professionally. Since I was working in the medical field—specifically in an administrative role rather than a clinical one—I wanted a program that would strengthen my knowledge and support my career path. That is what led me to the Healthcare Management Program.”
Flexibility and accessibility make online school work
“What ultimately made me choose Penn Foster,” Jimena explains, “was its flexibility and accessibility. The online format allowed me to continue working while studying, and the self-paced structure gave me the freedom to move forward in a way that fit my life and responsibilities. That was very important to me.”
That’s not all, though. Another factor that appealed to Jimena, and often many other students, is the price tag. “Another reason was that the program was affordable, which made continuing my education feel possible and realistic. I also really liked the curriculum and the classes that were offered. In the end, Penn Foster gave me exactly what I was looking for: an opportunity to learn, grow, and pursue my goals in a way that worked with my life instead of against it.”
Read more: 8 Online Degrees That Pay Well & You Can Start Today
Concerns about returning to school later in life
Many people worry about going back to school a bit later in life. Sometimes they worry so much that they let it stand in the way of achieving their goals. We asked Jimena if she felt similar concerns.
“Honestly, no,” she said. “I did not let those concerns stop me, because going back to school was something I had wanted for most of my life. It was a goal I had carried with me for many years. So when the opportunity finally came, I knew I could not let it pass me by. For me, it was not about my age. It was about finally having the chance to do something I had always dreamed of doing. I had waited a long time for that moment, and I was ready to embrace it.”
Read more: Aaliyah Williams Finds Her Second Chance
Challenges faced during the program
An anxiety that can plague many adult learners revolves around whether they’ve been out of school for so long that they aren’t able to keep up with the work. Jimena wasn’t immune to such thoughts, but she tells us how she coped with them.
“When I first enrolled, I was most nervous about writing essays and keeping up with the due dates. At the beginning, I did not fully understand the steps for writing an essay, and it felt very overwhelming. I even cried because I was frustrated and unsure of myself. But my instructors were very patient and helped me understand the process. In the end, I learned, improved, and passed the course. That experience showed me that even the hardest challenges can be overcome with support and determination.”
What was harder (and easier) than expected
It’s normal to have some preconceived notions about what going back to school will be like, especially when you decide to do it later in life. Some people might think it’ll be a walk in the park, while others may be very apprehensive about how difficult it will be.
Jimena’s experience was different than what she thought it would be. Not only was she an adult learner, but she also was trying to learn in her second language. “I thought going back to school would be easier, but it was actually more challenging than I expected. The hardest part for me was completing all of my work in English, because Spanish is my first language. That made the process more difficult at times, but it also helped me grow, become more confident, and prove to myself that I could do it.”
Personal growth and confidence after graduation
There are many positives to going back to school, but a sometimes unexpected one is the way you see yourself once you accomplish this goal. Jimena explains the feeling so well.
“Going back to school changed how I see myself at this stage in my life. Earning my associate degree meant fulfilling a dream I had for many years, and that gave me a great sense of pride. It also helped me grow professionally. I feel more confident, more prepared, and better able to present my work in a professional way. Most importantly, it showed me that it is never too late to keep learning, growing, and believing in yourself.”
Read more: Jacob Walden’s Story of Resilience and Determination
Navigating school as a non-native English speaker
Besides being worried about going back to school as an older adult, Jimena was also nervous about learning in a language that she wasn’t necessarily the most confident in. Jimena had a lot to share about her experience that may help anyone else who is trying to go back to school in their second language.
“I definitely had concerns about going back to school in English, since Spanish is my first language. I knew that this would be one of my biggest challenges, and at times it felt intimidating. I worried about understanding the material, completing assignments, taking exams, and expressing myself clearly in a language that was not my first.
What helped me work through that was determination, consistency, and the decision not to give up. I made my best effort every day to stay committed, complete my work, and keep moving forward, even when it felt difficult. I reminded myself that progress happens one step at a time.”
She also took a moment to highlight the support she received as she moved through her program, showcasing the fact that just because you’re completing your education online doesn’t mean you’re doing it alone. “I was also very grateful for the support of my teachers and instructors. Their patience, guidance, and encouragement made a big difference in my journey. In the end, all of the effort was incredibly rewarding. It taught me that even when something feels difficult at first, with hard work, support, and perseverance, you can overcome it and succeed.”
Take a page from Jimena’s book
Jimena’s story is inspiring and puts into perspective how realistic going back to school later in life can be. If you’re interested in going back to school but need flexibility and affordability, Penn Foster might be the place for you! Check out the list of programs we offer, request more information about any that interest you, and even speak to an admissions specialist on the phone by calling 1-800-275-4410 to see if our school is the right fit for you.
