After three years of hard work, Diane Barnard sees a light at the end of the tunnel.
Barnard, a Ph.D student in clothing and textiles, became a doctoral student when she was 58. Now 61, the doctoral student rides a scooter to class every day to save money for textbooks and other school expenses and said she loves every minute of it.
"I did things backwards," Barnard said. "I got married young, raised kids, homeschooled them and then went back to school."
Barnard said she waited to attend school until after her children left the nest for a reason.
"I never wanted someone to meet my child and say, 'Where are their parents?'" Barnard said. "I was there for them, and now they're successfully on their own. Now, it's my turn -- it's mama's time."
Ever since she was a child, Barnard said she loved fabric. When something frustrated her, there were two places she would go to let off steam: the library or the fabric store.
"I would just walk and run my hands over those beautiful fabrics," Barnard recalled with her eyes closed and a smile playing across her lips. "I can't explain to you what it is about them, but they're just apart of me."
After working with her master's for a few years as a historic costume and textile consultant, Barnard realized that research wasn't what she wanted. When the opportunity arose to return to school and get her doctorate, Barnard decided to go for it.
"You should always be examining your life," said Karla Teel, associate professor of apparel design. "If you have a dream or there's a job you want and you have the opportunity to do it, go for it. It sounds cliche, but it's never too late."
Teel, who has guided Barnard through the doctoral program, said she wants her student to be an encouragement to other mature adults.
"Diane is a great student and teacher, and she's someone many people can look up to," Teel said. "She realized her passion and did something about it. Often, that's harder to do than it sounds, especially when you're older than most students in the program."
Pamela Ulrich, graduate program officer and professor in the department of consumer and design sciences, said she is proud of Barnard for her dedication to the program despite her personal struggles over the years.
"Diane's been through a lot, but she hasn't given up," Ulrich said. "Her experiences have helped her be more engaged in learning and conversation with faculty and students."
Barnard's life experiences before Auburn have added to her effectiveness as a teacher, Ulrich said.
After raising her children while her husband served overseas and battling health issues, Barnard said she found ways to give back before going after her dreams.
In 2003, Barnard traveled to Iraq on a mission trip to build a medical clinic in Baghdad while Saddam Hussein was still in hiding.
"We never drove the same way twice," Barnard said. "I had to write a letter in case I didn't come back home, but those three weeks changed my life."
Barnard said she'd never forget an old woman who came up to the gate in her hijab and held out her hand to her on her last day in Baghdad.
"She said, 'Please help us,'" Barnard said. "I can still see her face, and the deep sorrow in her eyes. She was the face of the Iraqi people. She was the face of the lesson I brought home."
Barnard said if anything, she feels her age has helped instead of hindered her as a doctoral student.
"Seeing things like the woman in Iraq makes you not so timid anymore," Barnard said. "These experiences were brought to me for a reason, and I've learned that life's too short to waste it."
Teel said Barnard is going to be successful because of the way she listens and teaches with the heart -- a trait she's developed for 61 years.
"It's great to get your degree early on because you have your whole life ahead of you, but there's something really special about getting it after living a few more decades," Teel said. "When you come back as a mature adult, you know that each day is a gift and that you can't waste it doing something you don't like doing. That knowledge and wisdom has changed how I talk to my students, and I'm certain it's made Diane a better teacher to her students."
Barnard said she appreciates encouragement from faculty and fellow students, but feels her life experiences and decisions aren't anything to brag about.
"It is what it is," Barnard said. "I was going to be this age anyway, so I might as well do something with it because I'm still breathing. You don't stop contributing to this world until you're dead, so keep on contributing. You never know where it could lead you, or what that light is at the end of it all."
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