Moldovan grandmother, 49, enrols in social work degree to help others
A 49-year-old grandmother has proven that it is never too late to learn.
Elena Cernei is pursuing her dream despite age and obstacles. At 49, Elena enrolled in a Social Work degree to pursue her goal of helping others. Today, she is following this dream with determination, offering a lesson in perseverance, courage, and hope.
Elena comes from Găuzeni, a village in the Șoldănești district. Her life took an unexpected turn at a young age. After an accident on the uneven bars, she sustained a spinal cord injury. Health problems stole her dream of pursuing higher education. Over the years, she had to consult several doctors, hoping to be cured.
"I went to Moscow and St. Petersburg to seek treatment for my health issues. Because I was discriminated against as a student, later on, I had people—and unfortunately, there are still some now—who allow themselves to call me insulting names," Elena Cernei confessed.
Despite the setbacks, she never gave up. She married, raised a family, and now enjoys four grandchildren. To be able to help others, she decided to apply for the Social Work degree at the Free International University of Moldova (ULIM).
"My dream of getting here was a very long time coming, but because I finished vocational school in 1993, I didn't have the chance to continue my studies; I got married instead. When my classmates initially said they each had one child, I finally said: 'Dear classmates, you each have one child, but I am a grandmother of four grandchildren,' and I'm extremely happy to be part of the group," Elena Cernei said.
Elena is in her first year of studies and was chosen as the class representative, having the support of her colleagues and the appreciation of the university professors.
"I asked a colleague of mine, Andreea, to help me with the technology that's developing daily, especially with any barriers that come up. There's Gabriel, a great colleague who is always nearby. Even if we're at a distance, social networks allow us to do beautiful things," Elena Cernei mentioned.
"Elena is a first-year student, but from the moment she joined our group, the collective decided she should be the class representative, a decision based on respect, acceptance of her experience, and her natural authority. Elena is the soul of the group," said Dr Svetlana Haraz, a Social Psychology expert.
According to data provided by universities in Moldova, there has been a slight increase in the number of students over 40 in recent years. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 3,675 students were aged over 40.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
