It’s never too late to go back to university, Carla Formosa says as she meets two professionals who are resitting their formal education.

Davinia Galea

“I was never a studious child,” Davinia Galea says. “And you wouldn’t call me an all-rounder. However, with subjects I loved, I worked hard to achieve the grades I wanted.”

From a very young age, Galea based her life around music, culture and arts. Choosing a musical career path at the age of 17, Galea sat for her piano diploma instead of reading for a university degree.

“At the time, locally there weren’t any courses for the arts available yet, so I found my own way round the system.”

By the time she was 20 years old, Galea was busy establishing her musical career, teaching piano and part-time music lessons at school, training singers, participating in concerts, and all while learning the ins and outs of married life. However, in 2000, when her youngest daughter turned six, Galea reached a point in her career where something needed to change.

“I realised that my children were growing up and I needed to do something else for myself. I felt the need to go back to formal education,” she says.

As a musician, Galea feels that she is continuously learning. Be it a new piece of music or new techniques, you are constantly in a motion of learning.

“Studying and discipline are essential to any form or aspect of art,” she says.

Further education allowed me to create my career

Therefore, the idea of going back to a studying environment wasn’t as daunting as it might have been to others. The biggest challenge that Galea faced when enrolling for an undergraduate course in music and history of art was the idea of an academic environment and writing essays.

“As a mature student, perhaps I had more pride and felt like I couldn’t fail. Finding myself in a lecture room with youngsters again added more pressure,” Galea says.

While working for the Malta Arts Council, where she was eventually promoted to executive director after graduating, Galea made one of the most fulfilling choices in her life.

“I decided to read for a Masters degree in cultural management at the University of Sussex as a resident student.

“I was flying up to Sussex once a month and probably attending lectures more than the students living there,” she says.

Galea put her life and work experience to use and felt that she could apply herself more and tackle things at a higher level.

“I felt I could achieve more, not only in practical terms but also when dealing with the stress of deadlines and exams,” she says.

The choice to further her education was a great introduction to the broader knowledge of culture and arts. University enabled Galea to back up life experience with academia, which is the strongest weapon to have while pursuing a career.

“Further education allowed me to create my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without further education,” she says.

Galea has set up her own company, ARC Research and Consultancy, and was recently appointed deputy director of the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism. She also lectures at the University of Malta. “Without my qualifications, I don’t know where I would be. If you’re hesitant about going back to university, stop thinking and just go.”

Wilfred Buttigieg

Wilfred Buttigieg admits that his life has changed a lot since he was a young boy at St Edward’s College.

But that’s not the only change. After spending 12 years as a teacher in a government school, Buttigieg felt the need for something else in his life.

“As rewarding and fulfilling as teaching is, and witnessing the fullness of life each student carried around with them every day, I still knew it was time to move on.”

Ever since Buttigieg was a young boy, he was interested and respected different ways of life. He was especially fascinated by people who devote their life to academia. So after dedicating years of his life to teaching, he decided to pursue an undergraduate degree in law at the University of Malta.

“Having previously graduated with a B.Educ (Hons) in physical education in 2002, and achieving different qualifications after that, I felt law was something I should have pursued a long time ago,” Buttigieg says.

“I believe a lot in lifelong learning,” Buttigieg says.

With proper planning and support from his family and friends, Buttigieg found the perfect opportunity to pursue his lifelong ambition of becoming a lawyer.

I believe a lot in lifelong learning

“One friend in particular, Adrian Grech, always believed I was fit to be a lawyer. So with his advice I decided to head back to formal education.”

However, sitting on the opposite side of a classroom wasn’t always as easy as Buttigieg expected for a mature student. With studying comes full-time discipline and focus, thus balancing adult life with studies can sometimes be slightly tricky.

“When I started my degree, I was meant to be working as a property consultant, but the truth is that I got so absorbed in university work that I stayed at home reading instead of going out to sell property,” he says.

While discovering new pastures at university, Buttigieg was able to get back in touch with a generation he had long lost.

“Studying with younger students introduced me to things I hadn’t been accustomed to, including virtual communication.”

Being allowed to join in a few laughs with the younger students, but also applying his life experience, gave Buttigieg a totally knew experience of learning.

Nonetheless, when the opportunity arose for Buttigieg to run for the Iklin local council elections, he was once again faced with the challenge of how to cope with education and adult life.

“With such a great opportunity, I decided to complete my first semester but postpone my second semester to this year,” he says.

Buttigieg will now continue his second semester this academic year. With the idea of a successful legal career in mind, Buttigieg believes in the power of education for personal knowledge.

“You can never really know enough,” he says.