“Returning to campus feels amazing! People in their 30s, like me, can be just as vibrant as those in their 20s,” says 35-year-old Koushen Kou, a first-year graduate student at Nankai University. Since the semester started, he has quickly acclimated to his new environment.
Now, having familiarized himself with campus life, Kou often plays badminton with his younger classmates born in the 2000s. “It’s like a time warp, reminding me of who I was over a decade ago. I still feel like that same undergraduate,” he reflects.
For many, their 30s are a time when life begins to stabilize. Yet, some choose to return to school for further education. “Going back to school might not yield immediate results, but the experience enriches your knowledge and better equips you to face unknown challenges,” says 34-year-old Qin Qiong.
Kou’s journey back to academia wasn’t taken lightly. When he decided to leave his stable job as a contract engineer at a state-owned enterprise to pursue a master’s degree, his friends thought he was crazy. “I had a decent salary, a promising contract renewal, and little job pressure,” he explains. However, a personal relationship setback prompted him to reevaluate his life. “I realized I’d been away from the academic world for too long, and my skills were stagnating.”
At that pivotal moment, he stumbled upon an article about Nankai University, which discussed two seeds—one staying in its hometown, maintaining its roots, and the other entering campus life to witness growth. This resonated deeply with Kou, reminding him of his dream to attend Nankai when he was 18. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but felt compelled to pursue his passion despite significant external resistance.
In contrast, Li Minhong felt the urge to return to school at 32 to pursue applied psychology. After graduating from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, she worked as a nurse and a health manager. A patient suffering from bipolar disorder sparked her interest in mental health. “During my pregnancy, I pondered what impacts a child’s psychological growth, and how understanding psychology could help,” she shares.
Practical considerations also drive many like Kou and Li back to school. Qin, who transitioned from being a programmer to a product manager in an international company, emphasized the need for further education to enhance her professional prospects. “Without a background that fits my new career, I wouldn’t even get an interview,” she says.
Financial independence and savings from years in the workforce also give them the confidence to take such a leap. “After resigning from my state-owned enterprise job at 33, I finally found the means to pursue my long-held dream of studying linguistics abroad,” says Mao Jia, who chose to use a pseudonym.
However, the road back to academia is far from easy. After committing to return, Kou decided to prepare while working, studying during his spare time before and after work. For three years, he sacrificed socializing and leisure time, living with the anxiety of possible failure.
“The hardest part was having forgotten a lot of the material I’d once learned,” Kou admits. It took him over a month to solve a simple calculus problem, and he struggled with basic vocabulary during English comprehension exercises. Though he didn’t achieve his goal the first year, he resolved to try again with renewed determination.
Li faced her own set of challenges as she prepared for her exams while pregnant. Despite excelling in her professional coursework, she missed the mark by just one point on the political portion. As a new mother, the struggle to balance parenting and studying became overwhelming at times. “When my baby woke up, my focus had to shift entirely to caring for them,” she explains.
Fortunately, her husband supported her ambitions, helping analyze her study progress. By deleting social media apps and tuning out distractions, Li adapted by recording her study material to listen to while caring for her child, which helped her cultivate the ability to switch between roles quickly and regain momentum.
As the national graduate entrance exam approached, Kou experienced a whirlwind of emotions. On a train back to Jilin, he received a notification confirming his acceptance at Nankai University. “I was overwhelmed, laughing and crying,” he recalls, expressing joy and uncertainty about the future.
Come July 15, Kou opened the admission letter containing two lotus seeds from Nankai’s Nanhu Lake, which he tenderly held. As he prepared to register, he carefully sealed a seed in a bag to keep it from spoiling—one to stay in his hometown and another to be placed in his dormitory drawer, symbolizing his aspirations.
Now, both Kou and Li confront the pressures of a foreign academic environment, heightened workloads, and the anxiety of being older students. Despite their work experience, Kou struggled to keep up with the intense knowledge being presented. “There’s so much new material, and the research methods are unfamiliar. It’s challenging to absorb everything without reinforcement,” he notes.
Kou has found solace through friendship and physical activity, enjoying the company of peers who share interests and outlooks. “I’ve made many friends to chat, stroll, and watch sunrises with,” he shares.
Li feels welcomed by her classmates, who appreciate her insights as someone a few years older. “With a mindset focused on learning, I realize we’re all starting out in this field together,” she adds.
Both Kou and Li now cherish their time back in school, recognizing its precious nature. “I’m no longer drifting aimlessly. Every moment with my professors and classmates feels invaluable,” Kou states.
When it comes to whether returning to school later in life is worthwhile, Xié Xin, a lecturer from Renmin University of China, suggests that older individuals returning for further education signifies a conscious choice to redevelop their skills and knowledge. “It’s a shift from being economic contributors to students accumulating human capital,” he explains. “Though society temporarily loses some workers, long-term benefits to national knowledge capital and economic growth are substantial.”
On a personal level, embarking on this educational journey involves weighing financial and time costs against potential career uncertainties while also strategically enhancing knowledge and skills for future opportunities.
Li graduated from South China Normal University last year and is currently teaching psychology at a school. Friends and family often seek her advice on mental and physical health issues. She aspires to establish a counseling practice aimed at helping women navigate personal growth, family education, and relationships. “Women play a crucial role in family dynamics, often more than we realize; I want to use my knowledge to assist them,” she expresses.
Li feels that returning to school has helped her reshape her self-perception. “In my 20s, everything seemed fine, but the more I studied, the more I realized how much I didn’t know. Now, I have greater ambitions and thoughts that extend beyond myself,” she reflects.
Meanwhile, Mao, having studied abroad, has met fellow students of varying ages, including a man in his 50s who returned simply out of interest in studying the saxophone. Many international students strategically choose to study after gaining sufficient work experience and savings. “Studying abroad was just a rewarding chapter in my life,” she says, expressing contentment with her decision to return to coaching English for students of all ages instead of seeking a new job.
“I prefer a relaxed pace now, focusing on fitness, learning, and sharing travel experiences online. This experience adds vibrancy to my daily life,” Mao comments.
Ultimately, returning to campus offers a chance for new beginnings, but it’s essential to seize this moment productively. Li believes that her choice to return has clarified her goals and fueled her intrinsic motivation.
