An educator. One of the Co-CEO’s of Sandiane Dermatology Cosmetology and Laser Centre. A mother… Deborah Maria Fonceca Al Hooti fulfils many roles on a daily basis. And yet, in her late 40s, she decided to continue her education, and at 51, graduated with a Master’s Degree in Literacy and Language.
Having arrived in Oman at the young age of 23, Deborah worked in several prestigious organisations in the country. She met and married her husband Abdulla Al Hooti in 2001, and has been living in Muscat for 28 years. Her career began in business and marketing. She then started on the path of education through Teaching English as a Second Language. She trained at the British Council and got her CELTA and DELTA certifications and worked with several training institutes and colleges in Muscat. All through her 20s and 30s, she was busy working, studying and caring for her two kids.
She had a bucket list for things she wanted to accomplish by her 50th birthday – one of them was to open a business and the other to obtain a Master’s Degree! Read on to know about what inspired her to continue her education at 50 and why she feels everyone should continue learning at all ages …
What inspired you to pursue your Masters Degree in your late 40s?
I always dreamt of obtaining a Masters Degree. I wanted to honour my mother, Winifred Daphne Watts Fonceca. She was a woman of strength, and obtaining a Master’s Degree would be testimony to her hard work, bringing up her four girls after my father passed away when I was just four years old.
My husband Abdulla al Hooti gave me the motivation to apply for the course. He and my children supported me through the process. My sisters and family, friends and colleagues too encouraged me to accomplish this dream.
With the question of age, I did face some surprised looks about my decision. I guess they were sceptical about how I would be able to accomplish it.
What was the experience like, studying after all these years?
I teach people how to learn. So learning is my passion. However, it was time management that I needed to master! That and skills like writing and rewriting, motivating myself, liaising with academicians and validating my ideas. It was the journey that taught me things other than just the actual topic.
How did you manage to do it all – take care of your family, run a business and pursue your Master’s?
With a lot of support and discipline… I want to tell everyone who wishes to study at any age, please ask for support. There are people who will support you. There are champions among us who will cheer you on. Just ask.
Why do you think people should continue learning at all ages?
We are conditioned to believe that only the youth should study and finish studying by a certain age so that they can get a job. I want to be an example for everyone to see that we need to beat this conditioning. We should keep learning throughout our lives. It is vital for us to learn in any form, it doesn’t even have to be formal education.
I would also like to see the stigma associated with elderly people learning to read and write removed. We need to support people of any age continuing to learn. This will help keep them alert and mentally agile.
Tell us about Sandiane Dermatology Clinic. How did it come to be?
When my close friend Dr Ana Anido Serrano told me of her idea to open a dermatology centre and that she was looking for someone to be her partner, I grabbed the opportunity. So, along with studying, working, caring for my family, I added another challenge – opening a business! And Sandiane Dermatology Centre was born in March 2018.
What services do you all offer?
We offer both clinical and cosmetic dermatology solutions for all age groups. We specialise in customising solutions based on an analysis of our clients’ skin. Our dermatologists are specialists in their fields and are constantly learning of new research in the field. The two pillars of Sandiane are principled medical practice and education.
Does Sandiane offer special packages geared towards the festive season?
Sandiane has several packages that we offer from National Day, and will continue to do so throughout December. The festive season also calls for giving back to the community and we have made this a priority at Sandiane. We will be doing events for community service as we usually host free consultation days to give back to the community. This is our way of showing our respect and loyalty to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Al Said and the people of Oman.
What are your aspirations and future plans?
Right now I’m enjoying the feeling of having accomplished this! I do hope to continue studying and learning as well. I would like to inspire others to take up this challenge and join me.
