In 1980, a psychiatric nurse at Chicago's Michael Reese Hospital (and mother of two) divorced her husband in the midst of a particularly troubled married life and decided to pursue her lifelong dream of an acting career. She was 40.

Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 Can’t tell you how much I appreciated this today. I’m a 48-year-old mother of 4, and I just started law school this week! I’m equal parts excited and terrified.

@vaccineharpy Caileen Crecco 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Good luck to both of you! I’m 49 and start a PhD program this week. Excited and terrified beyond measure, so it must be the right thing!