Recently, I came across a TikTok post of a 70-year-old woman who decided to enrol in Grade 1. At first, I was honestly surprised. In most cases, someone her age would go for basic literacy classes, where the focus is on learning how to write their name or understand numbers. But this woman chose something different. She chose to sit in a classroom as a Grade 1 learner, fully stepping into a space that many would say is not meant for her age.

From the videos, you can see that she is genuinely enjoying herself. She laughs, she shares how her day went, and there is a visible sense of pride and excitement in the way she speaks. It is a simple thing, but also a powerful one. For her, this is more than just going to school, it is about doing something that brings her joy, something that is entirely her own.

Watching her took me back to Aawambo settings, where the lives of many women are centred around the household. Their achievements are often tied to care work, raising children, maintaining the home, and holding families together. These are important roles, but they are also seen as natural, expected, and therefore not always celebrated as accomplishments. There is rarely space for women to pursue something purely for themselves, especially later in life.

That is why this video felt so important. It felt like a small but meaningful shift. This woman becomes a kind of beacon, showing that it is never too late to choose yourself. For many women, especially our mothers, there are very few examples of people who step outside of these expected roles. Most of the women around them are living similar lives, shaped by the same expectations, and over time, those limitations begin to feel normal and permanent.

This creates a situation where many women feel it is too late to start anything new. The idea of going back to school, chasing a dream, or even exploring a personal interest can feel unrealistic or unnecessary. Yet, moments like this remind us that those boundaries are not fixed. They can be challenged, even in small ways.

Growing up, much of the literature we were exposed to did not reflect stories of older women reaching new milestones. There was very little representation of women choosing growth later in life. Even when these stories were written by women themselves, they often reflected the realities and limitations of their time. Still, I believe those same women were also planting seeds, hoping that future generations would imagine more for themselves.

Moving away from the belief that women’s education should end at lower primary levels has taken courage over many years. Seeing older women now step into spaces like classrooms, despite their age or circumstances, is a powerful reminder of that progress. It shows that learning, growth, and joy are not limited by age and that even the smallest steps towards oneself can carry deep meaning.

*Frieda Mukufa’s lifestyle section in the New Era concentrates on women-related issues and parenting. She specialises in editing research proposals, proofreading and content creation. 

– etuholefrieda@ gmail.com