By Sumayya Usmani, Writing and communications Intern and 1st year PGR in Creative Writing, author and writer.
I’ve always struggled with the word ‘mature’. What makes someone mature: experience? Or perhaps age, what age is mature enough? I don’t think that I have ever felt an age or experienced enough to be considered mature. Maybe this mindset is what led me to go back to university in my fifties and to apply for an internship in the Research Culture and Researcher Development team.
I spent years of my life working in a career that I didn’t love but when I tell people I left law to become a full time writer, I am met with awe and confusion. I know I made the best decision of my life and it has opened a whole new world full of excitement and opportunities to begin again.
When I walked into the Research Culture and Researcher Development team as the new Writing and Communications Intern, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Even after years of court proceedings and book festival talks, starting a position in an unfamiliar department left me with concerns that maybe, I wouldn’t an internship justice. I hoped that this would be a redefining experience for me, offering time to embrace something entirely new. The truth is you can learn something new no matter how experienced or mature you are.
Redefining what it means to start again
in 2023, I returned to university after twenty-five years to get my Masters in Creative Writing, and decided to continue on to a Doctorate of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (PhD). After building successful careers in two different fields, the prospect of becoming a student again was thrilling and terrifying . There’s something humbling, when you’ve spent decades being the expert, about sitting in lecture halls, raising your hand to ask questions, and submitting assignments for grading . What I’ve discovered over these past two years is that learning, with age or experience, deepens, becomes richer and more intentional.
I wanted to do this internship because challenging myself was the reason I was back at university. Researcher development and academia were both new spaces. Many friends questioned my decisions to go back to university and apply for internship, I knew that this was a step forward in my professional growth. Internships are not for those of a particular age or career stage – they are for everyone looking to step into their curiosity and courage to explore unfamiliar territory. The only necessary qualification is the willingness to learn and grow.
What experience brings to the table
I’m enjoying this position and the opportunity to delve into my toolbox of past professional skills. From analytical thinking and attention to detail from years of being a lawyer to effective communication and distilling of complex ideas gained as an author. While I came into this role with confidence, the challenges of this role have allowed me to weave together the different threads of my experience to work in an entirely different environment that is both exciting and challenging. In my role so far I’ve co-organised our annual writing festival, Write of Spring, sat on an expert panel sharing my writing journey and re-established our PGR Blog, which I curate and edit.
The power of collaboration and fitting In
Working alongside colleagues who have years of experience in a range of environments has been an unexpectedly enriching aspect of my internship. Initially, I worried about fitting in – would I struggle to connect with their perspectives and approaches? I soon found myself energised by these fresh viewpoints, and a genuine appreciation for my insights and contributions. The first 6 months of my internship have added new threads to the experiences I have weaved together over my educational and professional life. It has also shown me that working in a role where I have been given the chance to explore my skills within a nurturing and friendly team allows me to leverage diverse experiences to create richer solutions. I have felt like an asset to the team while discovering a new kind of confidence – one that balances being secure in my contributions with remaining open to new ideas, perspectives, and voices.
The freedom to learn without pressure
The beauty of being a ‘mature’ intern lies in the freedom that comes with having less to prove. This allows me to take risks, ask questions that might seem obvious, and admit when I don’t understand something. There’s a liberation in genuine learning for its own sake, unencumbered by the pressures that often accompany early career development.
This freedom has been the most valuable aspect of this internship for me. It’s given me the confidence to trust my instincts and offer perspectives drawn from decades of professional experience, while remaining genuinely open to learning. I’ve discovered how to contribute meaningfully by recognising that every career stage brings valuable insights to the table.
What new experiences give back
This experience has reinforced that reinvention at any career stage or age is both possible and vital. The myth that we should find our calling early and stick to it, is limiting and increasingly irrelevant in our rapidly changing world. Skills and experience come with you across careers, and our capacity for growth is unlimited.
Being an intern at fifty-two has been profoundly nourishing in ways I didn’t anticipate. It’s reminded me of the joy of learning something completely new, the excitement of mastering unfamiliar skills, and the satisfaction of contributing to work that feels meaningful. It’s also connected me with a community of researchers who value curiosity and innovation over conventional career trajectories. It’s given me a step into academia in a supported way, expanding my vision and awareness of possible future career paths.
I’m not just surviving as an intern – I’m learning, contributing, and proving that it’s never too late to write a new chapter. The most rewarding journeys often involve unexpected detours, and sometimes the most nourishing experiences come from having the courage to begin again.
The Auditorium: a research culture and researcher development blog 