Megane Masson – Contributor

Bishop’s vouches to be “a home away from home” for its student body. While that may generally be true, unfortunately, it does not apply to everyone. The foundations of a “home,” figuratively speaking, consist of a warm and welcoming feeling of belonging. Bishop’s tapestry covers many homes, but it might be hard to find one sometimes, which is when the club fair becomes handy. 

Image courtesy of Brian Fallu

Bishop’s community now welcomes the Mature Students’ Club! Led by Brian Fallu, husband and father of two teenagers, the idea came to him from a feeling of uneasiness vis-à-vis the inclusion of mature students into our community. As Brian says, being a mature student is different for everyone, and so is the experience. As a mature student new to Bishop’s, he felt lonely and thought others might share the feeling, too, as well as having similar backgrounds. The Mature Students’ Club continues to this day, growing larger and larger with 40+ members, and always welcomes more students to find a place where they can belong and feel understood. 

Arriving in a new environment is never easy, and even less so when expectations from the past and future interconnect. Blending different generations, as is often the case for Mature students returning to academia, can create some interesting moments, be it confusion or amusement. There are indeed different standards and mentalities throughout

generations, but they can come together and create beautiful bonds and unexpected friendships if one is willing to let their guard down. 

Unfortunately, there are some hardships for mature students wanting to return as a pupil. It is not easy; it demands resilience and grit. School-life balance is extremely different from work-life balance, and one might not find themselves shielded from exhaustion. There are many learning curves to tackle, but in the end, it is more than just worth it. The very concept and definition of education changes drastically as a mature student, and school transcends far beyond mere grades. 

Brian states that, “[his] goal is that one day, a mature student club like this won’t need to exist.” Not because he does not want to be involved, but because it showcases the Achilles’ heel that mature students must face to belong within the Bishop’s community. Until that ideal is reached, however, the club stands as both a support system and a statement: mature students deserve visibility and a space of their own. In that sense, the Mature Students’ Club does exactly what Bishop’s promises, which is to make the campus feel like a home, even for those who may have felt left outside its walls. 

Ultimately, the Mature Students’ Club is more than a student initiative; it is a testament to the many paths that lead to belonging. In creating a space where experiences are shared and understood, the club helps Bishop’s feel like a home not just in name, but in practice.