Crossing the stage at Convocation brought Erika Tilbrook (BECE ’23) one step closer to a whole new life.

It marked a pivotal moment for the the 47-year-old mom of four, who graduated from Brock’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE) program on Thursday, June 15.

Tilbrook found herself starting over in her early 40s after the end of her marriage. She’d spent the previous 20 years as a stay-at-home parent.

“I was thinking to myself, ‘well, now what?’” she says. “A lot of people my age are going to be retiring just as I’m starting out.”

Determined to rebuild her life and launch a career doing something she’s passionate about, Tilbrook enrolled in an early childhood education (ECE) program at Niagara College in 2018. At that point, she hadn’t been in a classroom since graduating from a creative fashion design program in 1997.

In March 2020, she was hired by the District School Board of Niagara as a supply early childhood educator. COVID-19 regulations meant she ended up spending an extended period working in one elementary school.

The experience inspired her to explore a career in teaching and Tilbrook started looking at options to complete a degree so she could apply to teacher education programs.

While committing several more years to her education was a daunting idea, Tilbrook’s ambition won out over her fears.

“I told myself I’d be 50 by the time I finished. That’s too old,” she says. “But I loved working at the school board. Four years is going to come and go whether I go to school or not, and I’m just going to regret it if I don’t.”

She enrolled in the BECE program in September 2021 because of its online structure. The the transfer credits she received from her college diploma allowed her to pursue her dream while balancing part-time work and her family’s needs.

With the support of Brock faculty members, Tilbrook soon discovered a surprising love of research.

She spent two internships researching forest schools with Monique Somma, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Studies, who later hired her as a research assistant (RA), giving Tilbrook the opportunity to present their work at conferences in December 2022 and May 2023. She has also been hired as an RA by Sandra Della Porta, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Studies.

While she still hopes to teach one day, Tilbrook has been accepted to Brock’s Master of Education program and is considering previously unimagined career paths that would allow her to make a difference in the lives of children through policy-making, administration or research.

Her experience at Brock and the support she received from faculty in the program have been a significant part of Tilbrook’s personal growth over the past few years.

“There’s so much opportunity and new direction that I’ve been given. I feel like I’m getting more confident,” she says.

Tilbrook’s children, now aged 14 to 23, are proud of everything their mom has achieved so far.

“They’re so sweet,” she says. “They tell me all the time how proud they are of me. Every time they walk by my desk in the living room they say ‘good job, mom’ or ‘way to go.’”