The transformative power of education and the positive role Swansea University played in one woman’s life are among the themes of a new book aimed at inspiring others as they navigate middle age.
Wellness entrepreneur Emma Tamplin graduated with a BSc in Business Management in 2022 despite losing her daughter to leukaemia during her studies. Since then, she has gone on to not just launch her latest successful business but also complete a master’s in psychology.
Now she has told her story in The Journey Home which she hopes can play a part helping other women reaching their potential.
She said: “This book is for the woman who has spent their life showing up for everyone else, only to reach their forties or fifties and realise she’s lost sight of who she is somewhere along the way.”
Emma’s own experience dealing with grief and depression and her eventual route back to a meaningful life are at the heart of the book – and she says her studies were crucial in that personal journey.
“Swansea University literally saved my life after Megan died at 15. There were times when I genuinely didn't know if I could continue. But my degree became my lifeline - it gave me a reason to get up in the morning, structure when my world had fallen apart, and hope when I had none.
“The book shares my message to women in midlife who are struggling with mental health, grief, or feeling lost: you can get through the darkest times and still find the light again. I'm living proof.”
As part of her master’s studies, Emma examined the connection between imposter syndrome and female entrepreneurship which became catalyst for the book
She said: “I feel older people, particularly women, have so much to give but often they end up feeling invisible and can lose their identity. Once they hit their forties they fear if they haven’t achieved what they wanted to, then they never will. But it is never too late.”
Emma, from Neath, started her first business in her early 20s and now she concentrates on coaching other women as part of her own wellness enterprise.
“I provide a more holistic approach to life coaching, to inspire women to fulfil their potential rather than telling them what to do. I want to equip them the basic tools to help them succeed. Wellness is not about spending money, it is about simple changes - things like walking or practising mindfulness can make a huge difference to how you feel.”
These are all strategies Emma has used successfully, particularly after losing her daughter.
“Megan’s death changed everything and some of those changes have been very positive. It led to me becoming a better person. Her legacy has been to push me towards achieving more.”
Leaving school with few qualifications knocked Emma’s confidence. It was only when she started her own business that she began to regain it. A leadership and management qualification led to her enrolling university aged 37.
“Since I started at Swansea I haven’t looked back, it changed my life. I may have been the oldest person on my course, but I loved it straight away. And although lockdown was very challenging, continuing to study in difficult circumstances really helped to build strength and character.”
“At university I learned how to argue, how to question and how to research. You learn a different way of thinking and are open to other people’s thought processes. These are all skills you need in the workplace.”
Emma added: “I want to encourage more people to consider going to university as mature students. It helped me to get to where I am in life.
“The education system we have here in Wales is a gift and age really is no barrier. So why not go for it, challenge yourself and reach for your dreams?”
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