The nest may be empty for baby boomers such as 52-year-old Ruth Shykowski, but life after parenthood is offering her and other women her age the opportunity to complete their education and fulfill lifelong dreams.
The mother of four deferred her academic ambitions several decades ago to raise her children, planning all the while to someday return to school and build upon her associate's degree. In fact, Ms. Shykowski waited more than 30 years to keep a longstanding promise she had made to herself.
"I always wanted to be a teacher, ever since I was a little girl," said the resident of Roseville, a community near Sacramento. "I wasn't willing to let it go, and thanks to National University, I've been able to successfully pursue that goal as a grandmother."
Ms. Shykowski received her Master of Science degree in special education from National University this year. She reflects a large number of baby boomer women in the workplace, an important demographic segment which is well-served by California's second-largest private non-profit university.
According to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of women 55 and older in the work force will increase by a dramatic 52 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 6.4 million to 10.1 million. While some may be looking forward to retirement, many are reinventing themselves or preparing for new careers.
"These are very rewarding years when moms can finally focus on their own needs again," says Ms. Shykowski. "I have a lot of energy and a lot yet to offer the world at my age."
Baby Boomers are by far the most educated generation They were among the first to realize that pursuing higher levels of education would have a powerful and positive impact on their lives. They originally enrolled in college during an era when the percentage of Americans pursuing academic degrees jumped from three to 20 percent.
Now, as woman like Ms. Shykowski transition from motherhood back into the workplace, they are returning to college in their 40s and 50s.
The growing number of Baby Boomer women in the workplace, combined with the fact that National University caters specifically to working adults, helps to explain why National grants more master's degrees to women than any other university in the state.
"Age should never inhibit anyone from achieving what they want in life," says Ms. Shykowski. Even though she had to borrow to pay the majority of her tuition, she sees it as a good investment. "With my master's degree, I will make $2000 more per year than I was making, and it will improve my financial outlook for that day in the future when I truly am ready to retire."
More than that, Ms. Shykowski says she will be an inspiration to her children and grandchildren, reinforcing a value and commitment to education and serving as a vital role model to lifelong learning.
