Allenton mother-of-four Linda Holland could be excused for being too tired to study.

 Her children, aged between nine and two years, are a full-time job on their own; add husband Ross, a mechanic, and a house to run and there’s not too much free time.

Studying by correspondence was an idea that percolated for several years before Linda decided to bite the bullet and try.

 With pre-children experience in a property and family law office, she was interested in taking her knowledge to the next level, as a legal executive.

 So with oldest daughter Sarah just off to school, and Ben and Sam at home, she started studying in 2005 – with a view to eventually passing the New Zealand Law Society’s legal executive exams.

 She says three Ds kept her focused.

 Discipline, determination and a desire to succeed. While the young ones slept, Linda found time to work on assignments, read and research.

 Papers included law office practice and business, property, litigation and estates law.

 “I was very excited when the first package came. It was a new challenge, it was something for me.”

 Linda had previously completed a national diploma of business and was cross-credited one of the papers to her new legal executive studies.

 She said the Open Polytech tutors talked through timeframes for the course and contingency options if she had to take a break.

 So, armed with a limited amount of disposable time and a well-organised diary, Linda began working her way through the assignments.

 She sat one paper in her first year, two in 2006 and was pregnant with fourth child Joshua while studying another paper in 2007.

 Her assignments consistently came back with As and she passed the end-of-year exams with flying colours.

 But 2008 was to bring extra challenges that forced Linda to take a study break.

 Joshua, born with a half cleft palate, had frequent hospital appointments in Christchurch, and surgery a day before his first birthday on December 12.

 Linda said breaking the study into small steps made it seem less overwhelming and she tried not to look too far ahead in the box of study material.

 Studying over time also spread the cost, with polytechnic fees, exam fees and the cost of textbooks and legislation amounting to about $4000.

 “I didn’t feel that confident about getting into it, but Ross was very supportive and once I started and could see I was getting results, it gave me more motivation.”

 She sat her final paper in 2009 and the exam in October led to a nervous wait for the results, but she needn’t have worried.

 “When I opened the envelope and saw I had passed, I felt elated. But Christmas was on the doorstep, and birthdays, and there was no time to celebrate.”

 The law society will formally recognise last year’s graduates at a ceremony in Christchurch later this year.

 She hopes to put her new knowledge to use in a law office when Joshua finally goes off to school, or to good use in a voluntary capacity.

 Either way, she’s pleased to have accomplished a long-term goal and grown personally in the process.

 It helps, she adds, to have good support from husband Ross, family, friends and church.

 “My Christian faith and the support by my family and friends have been the key factors in persevering with my educational goal and achieving it.”

 Still with an eye on returning well-equipped to the workforce, Linda is this year improving her computer skills with a flexi-time course at the Ashburton Polytech.

 “I have not worked for 10 years and I knew my computer skills would be behind.”

 The family has only just bought a computer so she will be able to practise at home.

 Her study story, she says, is not remarkable. But proof that with a long-term plan and commitment, people can gain qualifications that provide a new lease on life.

 Linda says educational facilities are flexible and welcoming towards adult students. In return, those combining study with busy lives needed to be realistic about how much time they could devote to study.

 “Better to take on a smaller workload and do it well, than do more but be average.”

Pictured: Newly-qualified legal executive Linda Holland with her biggest fans, children (from left) Ben, 8, Joshua 2, Sarah, 9 and Sam 6. Photo Kirsty Graham 050210-KG-034