Mr. Moir? What are you doing here?

Though I hadn't heard it in years, the voice was instantly recognizable.

It belonged to one of my former students, Nick. I was Nick's teacher a few years ago, and though he was about a foot taller and another foot wider, he was still the same bright, gregarious student that I remember from that first period American History class.

We chatted for a few moments outside the Second Cup at Sheridan College. I was enrolled in the Journalism-New Media post-graduate program at Sheridan, and it was finally September, the first day of school.

It was great to catch up with Nick. Learning about past students' accomplishments is truly one of the best parts of being a teacher and this instance was no exception.

Except this time, I wasn't his teacher. I was his classmate.

For five years, I taught high school history in England and across Ontario. It was a deeply rewarding experience, both personally and professionally, but there was always a part of me that wanted to break out of the classroom and try something else.

I've always had a voracious appetite for news and I love to write, so journalism seemed like a logical idea for a career change. But to get a job in today's hyper-competitive media market, you need formal journalism training, so at age 31, I found myself preparing to head back to school.

Deciding what and where to study was the easy part. Making it work was far more challenging.

Leaving the professional workplace and going back to college or university to become a full-time student is a daunting task. For anyone considering taking the plunge and jumping back into their studies, these are some things you might want to consider.

Money

Whether doing a certificate at Sheridan or an MA at Western, these programs are not cheap, and that can be very stressful.

In order to keep your head above water, try not to sever all ties with your former places of business; there might be opportunities for freelancing, consulting, or doing some kind of part-time contract. Doing work for your old company might not be what you had in mind, but it could be a way to ease the financial burden of full-time studies. I was a substitute teacher during my year at Sheridan, and although I only went in to teach roughly once a week, that little bit of income certainly helped on the first of the month when rent was due.

Family

My wife and I had our first child in June and, as a teacher, I was fortunate enough to have the entire summer holiday to spend with my new family. When September arrived, that changed dramatically. With class all day and assignments and projects to do in the evenings, graduate studies can make for a harried schedule. And when you throw kids in the mix, things can get even crazier.

It's inevitable that school is going to eat up a lot of your day, therefore it's crucially important to develop a routine that maximizes the time you do have with your family. Whether it's making dinner with your partner or hanging out with your kids after day-care, ensure that you're devoting quality time to your family as much as possible. This can be the difference between a hectic, yet manageable year of study and an utter disaster.

School

It's not hard, at first, to feel a little out of place in a classroom full of 22-year-olds. My advice? Think nothing of it. In my experience, the age difference is usually a far bigger deal for the older students than those in their twenties. Besides, you bring a breadth of experience that younger classmates will respect and be interested in hearing about. And you, in turn, will learn a lot from your younger peers. If you consciously try to use their ideas and knowledge to complement your own, that initial age-related unease will melt away in no time.

Regardless of your age, grad school is what you make of it, and the right program at the right school will guarantee that heading back to the classroom was well worth the investment.

And if you're really lucky, you might even get to hang out with your former students.

Photos: Digital Vision./Thinkstock