Joann Dill never expected to become a teacher - in fact doing a day release as a teacher's helper in high school totally put her off the idea.

But after raising her children and being in the workforce, she thought again about the idea and ended up going to university in Canada to complete her Bachelor's degree in education. In spite of her early bad experience, Ms Dill clearly has a natural talent for education - she came first in her graduating class at Mount St. Vincent University in Nova Scotia.

Ms Dill said she originally wanted to be a psychologist, but she added: "As an adult, after having had my own children, I thought more about teaching."

She spent eight years as a para-professional, helping students with learning difficulties in the classroom.

Then Ms Dill started a combined BA in Applied Arts and Child and Youth Studies integrated with a BA in Education. The course is run at the Bermuda College and at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) in Halifax, in Nova Scotia. It is part Internet study with visiting professors.

She started the course in Bermuda, but after several personal challenges, she decided to immerse herself in the course and university life. She moved to MSVU and partook in the whole student experience, living in the dorms and going to classes and enjoying the entire experience.

She said: "I was leaving life as I knew it, going to a new life of just me." Ms Dill is specialising in primary education, as she prefers little kids. She said: "I don't want to teach anyone who is bigger than me."

The course took one and a half years full time because she had accumulated credits from other courses.

There was also a 12-week practical course of in-class teaching. Going back to school is daunting for mature students, but Ms Dill rose to the challenge.

She knew she had done very well on her course, but was very surprised to see her name on the Dean's List and even more surprised when she received the Senate Award of Distinction Prize for having the highest grade point average .

In fact, studies show that mature students learn faster because in many cases they have a point of reference.

"Sometimes I would be in class saying to myself `I just know this!'," said Ms Dill. "My professor said to me `You have just come here to find out the names of what you knew already knew'."

Ms Dill highly recommends MSVU, saying it is a pro-female university and very supportive of mature students.

Bermuda College director for continuing education, Eugenie Simmons, agreed: "MSVU was founded on the premise of female access to higher education.

"The course is open to either anyone with an Associates Degree or with a combination of 60 credits. It takes around four years depending on how many classes you take per year."

Ms Simmons added it is also great one can do it at the Bermuda College, rather than going abroad, especially if it is not feasible.

"If you are interested it is best to come in and see what can be done to get you on the path," she said.

Ms Dill said it is never too late to start studying: "When I was in University, there was one older student than myself, she was 70 and she lived in the dorms as well.

"She had been a very successful estate agent, but she always felt that she hadn't been to university and it was always something she had wanted to do - so she was there studying Philosophy. So if she can do it anyone can."

Ms Dill also learned organisation skills, relearning to use the library and meeting deadlines. "I also learned that I am a person who can sit and study for only an hour at a time and recognising this helps me to understand a child's needs and their individual characters.

"My going has had a positive impact on my children, Tao and Courtney. Going away to university broadens your horizons, it opens you up and you look at things from an entirely different perspective."

In September, Ms Dill will be teaching at St. George's Preparatory School - and she will begin an MA in Literacy Education in September, this time as a distance learning student.

Ms Dill is also the mother of broadcast journalist Tao Dill and Courtney Dill, who is at university.

What is the best advice that she feels that she can tell her students?

"If you start something, you should always finish it. It's just one of life's lessons, just something to do."