Why I Started this Blog (and How I Hope You Find it Helpful)

It was 7:55 AM on a Tuesday, and I was standing in the hallway of the Science Building, clutching a brand-new notebook and trying to control my breathing.

Inside the classroom, forty students were settling into their seats. They were chatting about weekend plans, scrolling on their phones, and flipping open slim laptops. They looked fresh. They looked energetic.

They looked… twelve.

I looked down at my sensible shoes and then at the syllabus for Anatomy & Physiology in my hand.

For a brief, terrifying second, I thought: What on earth have I done?

I could be sleeping in right now. I could be drinking a second cup of coffee on the patio, or enjoying the "early retirement" I had worked decades to achieve. I could be living a life of quiet, comfortable Tuesdays.

Instead, I was voluntarily walking into a high-pressure environment to memorize the names of 206 bones alongside classmates who were born the year I bought my first house.

People tell me I’m crazy for trading a quiet retirement for the chaos of nursing school. Honestly? Some days I agree with them. But here is why I did it—and why I’m staying.

Life Before Scrubs

Before I bought a stethoscope, I spent 27 years working for the government.

It was a good career. It was stable, structured, and I was good at it. I knew the regulations. I knew how to navigate complex systems and serve the public. But after nearly three decades, I knew my time there was done.

I didn't retire to relax.

I didn't hand in my badge so I could sit on a beach or learn how to knit. I retired specifically to come here.

I felt a pull toward something tangible, something where I could see the difference I was making with my own eyes. Nursing wasn't a whim or an afterthought to fill the time; it was a calling I had been moving toward for years. I traded a pension and a predictable schedule for a backpack and 8:00 AM labs because I wasn't finished being useful.

I was ready for my second act.

The Reality Check

Walking into that first class at 51 years old was a humble pie served cold.

The first thing I realized? I literally have shoes older than some of my classmates.

The second thing I realized was the Tech Shock.

While I was uncapping my favorite gel pen to take notes, the girl next to me was already Airdropping a PDF of the lecture slides to her tablet, highlighting key terms with a stylus, and recording the professor’s audio simultaneously. I felt like I was trying to start a fire with flint and steel while everyone else had a flamethrower.

I went home that first week and cried. I thought, “Can I actually do this? Has my brain turned to mush? Am I just going to embarrass myself?”

The "Empty Nest" Struggle

And then there is the other factor. The one the 20-year-olds don't have to worry about.

I am a mom of four.

While my children are adults and no longer live at home, the "Mom" role never truly turns off. When class ends, my classmates head to the library to study for several hours, or they go back to their aartments to take a nap before going out.

Me? I have an hour drive home to a different set of responsibilities.

I have a household to help run. My husband and I have a mortgage to manage. Even though I don't have toddlers underfoot, I still have four young adult kids to advise, family logistics to coordinate, and a dinner to get on the table.

The mental load is heavy. I’m trying to hold the chemical structure of antibiotics in my head right next to the fact that I need to schedule a plumber and call my son about his car insurance.

Moms don't get sick days, and we definitely don't get "study leave"—even when the nest is technically empty.

The Turning Point

About a month in, I hit a wall. I was staying up until 1:00 AM trying to memorize flashcards, fueled by panic and caffeine. I was exhausted, cranky, and falling behind.

I realized I couldn't keep up with the kids by working harder. I didn't have the hours.

I had to work smarter.

I remembered my 27 years in government service. I used to manage massive workloads and navigate bureaucracy. I realized that my age wasn't a liability; it was actually my superpower. I knew how to manage time. I knew how to prioritize. And most importantly, I wasn't afraid to find tools to help me.

While discussing some of my frustrations my husband mentioned using AI to help. He works in the technology sector and uses AI everyday. He helped me start to exploring the tools. I started playing with Google Gemini and Notebook LM. I downloaded the apps the kids were using.

And I realized something amazing: We can use these tools, too. In fact, in a lot of ways I was better at using them than my younger colleagues.

I started using AI to summarize long textbook chapters while I baked a cake. I found apps that quizzed me on anatomy terms while I waited for appointments. I automated the family calendar so my phone reminded me where to be, so my brain could focus on studying.

Welcome to Moms Study Hall

I started this blog, Mom’s Study Hall, because I know I’m not the only one.*

I know there are other women (and men) out there who are reinventing themselves. Other adults who are going back to school, starting new businesses, or just trying to keep their heads above water in a digital world.

This blog is my open notebook.

• I’m going to share the exact study hacks and AI tools I use to pass exams without pulling all-nighters.

• I’m going to share the meal plans and home systems that keep my family fed and organized when I have zero time.

Most importantly, I’m going to prove that we can handle the technology just as well as the "digital natives"—we just might need to wear our reading glasses to do it.

It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s really, really hard. But honestly? I’ve never been happier.

Are you starting a "Second Act" or going back to school later in life? Let me know in the comments below—I’d love to know I’m not the only one in the front row!