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Location: big island | well...here i am, a 52 year old edumacational rebel. i absolutely despised high school where i was usually high, the class smartass and only did just enough to get shuffled on to the next grade.
swore i'd never devote myself to boring book learnin' and thought college would be a mere waste of my social time and lightning-like brain function.
fast forward 34 years: i'm headed out the door for my first day of higher education this morning. i've got tummy rumbles, which might be from last night's black bean garlic chicken & broccoli, but they feel like anxiety bubbles.
it's really odd. beside me on the floor is my book bag/backpack stuffed with the heavy textbooks for this semester and the haunting feelings of being a new kid in school are happening all over again. it's a feeling i was well-acquainted with in my younger days as i was a new kid in 19 different schools, but i was never comfortable in that role, nor did i ever have the chance to develop any long-term friendships. (no wonder i'm still a social outcast deserving of a vacation once in a while!)
i know i'm going to be just fine. i'll most likely still be the class smartass, but am also anticipating doing very well. i will try to remain humble in class as life's experiences have taught me many of the things these young whippersnapper college kids are attempting to learn from books. it'll be cool yearning to say, "i know, i know. pick me!" when i used to just cower in the corner.
have any of you attended college later in life? care to add any thoughts? |
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Location: East Tennessee | The major differences are:
1. Most of the teachers will be younger than you.
2. No major issues with acne.
Homework will still be a drag. |
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Location: SoCal | My guess is that you'll enjoy it. Most kids are too young to really get a good education at 18-22. You'll be appreciating the experience much more than anybody else in the classroom..... |
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| Good for you, Randy. I went back and got another Masters exactly 20 years after getting my Bachelor's - working full time and with two kids in early elementary school. It helps to have a supportive spouse (I didn't, not entirely, part of the reason she's an ex), and there will be times when you just want to raise your hand and say, "Can I be excused? My brain is full!" But you'll find that you're much more focused than the teeny-boppers around you, and because you want to be there the motivation to study and do well is that much greater.
One of my favorite memories was when I was in software engineering class and I came up with what I thought was a pretty darned elegant solution to a vexing program requirement. I explained it to my team members and one of them looked closely at me, and asked "Just how old are you?" I told him and he replied, "Damn, You could be my father!" Before I could punch his lights out he redeemed himself by saying, "There's no way my father could take this class & come up with that."
Best of luck and enjoy the ride. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Long while back, I stepped under an awning at Humboldt State University to get outta the rain...
There was about twenty people on a smoke break from taking entrance exams out there.
A surprising number of them had gray hair.
Youth and Education are wasted on the young!
One of these days I will go back to school to study something.
[Luthiery, MC Mechanics, Electrical License, Plumbing... Who knows] |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Randy,
That's great! Whatcha majoring in?
I took more than several night college classes as an adult. I actually enjoyed most of 'em. But keep in mind that the subjects were of my own choosing. BTW, the profs seemed to have a different 'attitude' than when I was younger; kinda like when "my parents got smarter"... ;)
I'm not sure if I could carry a full load though.
Best of luck! |
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Location: Rego Park, NY, | Randy,
Good luck with your school. A friend of mine is currently in school. He was always getting better grades than me but not good enough to be considered an honor student. He has a 4.0 index now and is getting better grades than his daughter.
I give you alot of credit for doing this at this time of your life. I was in a 5 year pharmacy program and could not wait till it was over. The current pharmacy program is 6 years. There is even talk of making it 7 years. Just hearing that the program is extended makes me really appreciate that I graduated when I did.
Phil |
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Location: big island | thanks, folks.
i'm headed for a 2 year RN degree initially. this will take me 3 years in order to get the pre-reqs handled first. i then may go on for the bachelor program.
there is a severe shortage of nurses here and then, only one in three students coming out of the pre-reqs will be accepted into the RN program due to a lack of teachers. i'm gonna have stay on top of the game.
my daughters both started pre-school last week and they are loving it. this frees up time for me to attend school full time. i was stunned at the cost of textbooks!!
whoops, gotta go. i hear the bus horn! |
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Location: Rego Park, NY, | Randy,
My friend is going for an RN degree. It's a special program that will finish with an RN degree after 2 years. |
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Location: SoCal | Randy, my wife's a nurse. Steady work, great pay, and she loves it. I'm trying to talk her into working 6 12 hour shifts every week so I can retire...... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | In many ways, I'm envious. I was a "good" student and went straight through 7 years of college and postgraduate school, earning money at jobs most evenings, weekends, summers and other breaks from school. I'm not sure it was worth it. I might have been much smarter if I figured out what I wanted to do and then went to school to learn what I needed, rather than getting an education and then trying to figure out what to do with it.
Paul, my wife's a nurse and I've been trying the same thing for years. Let me know if you figure out an argument that works. |
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Location: Alagoas, Brazil | Originally posted by lanaki:
have any of you attended college later in life? care to add any thoughts? I did. I went to nightschool for 5 years, to get a Law Degree. I was the oldest student in class, older than many teachers. I even dated a teacher for a while. Kids where scared of me in the beginning (with a full grey beard and somewhat long hair I guess they thought I came right from a cave to the school), and became respectful after a while. I made good friends there also.
The difficult thing was starting to learn again. It seems that my brain needed to get used to studying, after all those years of peace of mind.
best regards,
Miguel |
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Location: Vernon CT | Good for you Randy!! I wish I had the Drive to do it. I have taken night classes before and enjoyed most, but that was 1 at a time while I worked full time. I was shot every day and felt more "useless" everyday as 9 9-1/2 hours of work,
2 hour class and homework plus normal everyday "housework" killed me. Good luck !!!!
I'm sure we are all rooting for you! |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | I went back a few years later too, Randy. Pro's - you're more focused and have a MUCH better idea where you want to go and how to get there. Con's - the young ladies are MUCH more, uh, well, never mind that. Work hard and enjoy it. I did and was very glad I did. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | You're going to love it. Besides, for the next two years you'll be surronded by young single women! Just remember to study.
The advantage you'll have is practical life experience. |
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| Good Luck. |
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Location: CA | Another observation: All the girls will seem incredibly young and beautiful, and all of them will treat you like a convicted sex offender with leprosy. At least at first.
Or maybe that was just me, and I was all of 31 when I finally graduated. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | And don't call your teachers "Young'un", "Kid", and "Little Girl"....
Ya' gotta get used to someone young enough to be your child grading your work! :D |
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Location: big island | i just survived psychology 100. my very first college class. 30 students. there's one guy who may be a bit older than me. the balance of the class members are 25 and under. the professor is a woman perhaps 10 years older then me. 'twas fun.
on break until expository writing in an hour and a half.
got pulled over by flashing blue lights en route home and fined $70 for an expired inspection sticker. totally took me by surprise to learn it expired in april of '08. went directly to an inspection station only to learn my window tinting is darker than now allowed and cannot get inspected until i remove it all! fines are $250 per window. so, i now have to remove the tinting, which really is a bummer, especially for my kids in the back seat. i cannot afford to get new, "legal" tinting. walmart kiddie shades, here we come.
oh well...gotta keep a good attitude for my next class. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Good Luck with it! |
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Location: big island | Originally posted by Weaser P:
...Con's - the young ladies are MUCH more, uh, well, never mind that... overweight! one of the thoughts i had this morning while seeing the other students as i was making my way to class. it seems a clear 6-7 out of 10 young ladies are overweight and many of them grossly over.
i do not recall that being the case when i was in high school. processed and fast foods symptoms? sheesh! |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | Randy, Studying as a mature age student is much more fulfilling than as a 19 year old. I did my undergraduate degree straight out of school and then years later did some post graduate stuff. I'm now (at nearly 50) doing my PhD full time on a scholarship.
Yes, everyone (including most of the PhD students) are way younger than me. You'll be the one in class who is engaging the lecturer in a discussion - remember she/he is your employee, ask all the damn questions you need to ask. All the young folk will roll their eyes, but secretly admire you because they could never have thought of the question.
Bummer about the car. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Because I was just reminded by a new member to stay on topic, I thought I'd mention that the only reason I'd like to go back to college would be to take some music classes. I took a few in the 70s, but just touched the surface. I don't expect to make a living at it, but that might make it much more interesting. Some more music theory maybe and then go from there, maybe into some performance classes. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Randy, it took me 11 years, three seminaries, a marriage, two kids, and more money than I care to count to finish my Master of Divinity in May of last year (and a lot of grey hair). I was elated only to find out there were three courses mandatory for the United Methodist Church I needed for ordination. I was unable to take them at the time because the UM Professor retired and they did not replace him for three years (until now); so here I am, the only post Grad sitting from 8am til 5pm today thru Friday for 2 of the 3 courses I need. It's another hoop I have to jump through. I brought the Martin OM which is keeping me company...
Best wishes! |
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Location: Tennessee | Congrats Randy. I would like to find a way to get back to school and do it all over again. I had to work full time to get everything paid so I didn't really get to enjoy the college experience. I'm just afraid by the time I can pull it off, Kimby-D is going to need to pin a note on my jacket before she puts me on the short yellow bus for my first day. |
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| Went to college. Then went in the military. Then went to college again for a different degree.
Big difference the second time. You won't be easily intimidated in philosophy class. Hell, you won't be easily intimidated in any class. You will study more effectively, get better grades and have a good time without getting blasted. |
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| Originally posted by lanaki:
well...here i am, a 52 year old edumacational rebel. i absolutely despised high school
Congratulations Randy and best of luck with it.
I'm 52 as well and only went to high school to work on my car or hang out with my friends. Rarely looked at the material until the night before an exam and managed to cruise through while doing as little as possible.
Went to art college for 3 years after high school and owned an advertising photography studio in Toronto for about 10 years after that.
I got bored with photography and decided to become a lawyer so I went to university full time for 3 years to get a BA and then another 3 years at law school for the LLB. After that I completed our bar admission course which was an additional 4 months plus the required one year term of articles with a law firm. Almost 8 years from start to finish.
Even though I had never been interested in academics at high school, nevertheless, once I decided that I wanted to go to law school I just got started and took it down piece by piece. I'm sure you will do the same - having a goal and being willing to work hard is probably the biggest part of it.
I often remember my mother shouting at me once when I was about 16 - she said something like the following: "you've got a good brain but you won't use it, if you'd spend as much time at your studies as you do banging on that guitar you could be a doctor or a lawyer."
Well, I guess she was right but I'm still banging on that guitar..lol |
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Location: Michigan | Randy please learn how to deal with taking care of PERI ANAL ABCESSES .We as brothers need to take care of each other.You need to know of the proper medication to give out. :D GWB: :eek: |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Enjoy the moment, Randy.
I went to Uni in my late 30's. Loved it, then hated it, then loved it again, then went all ambivalent. I was lucky to have a supportive wife througout.
The only real thing I learned at university is that people with a degree AREN'T smarter than those without. They just think they are.
About your car windows, Randy. In Australia, its only the windscreen and 2 front windows that require legal tint. The rest of the windows can be as dark as you want. You might want to check up on that before removing all of them.
Also, when new auto rules come into being, they shouldn't be retrospective. If your car's windows were legal when they were tinted, they should still be legal.
Mark??? An American law perspective please? |
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| Originally posted by muzza:
The only real thing I learned at university is that people with a degree AREN'T smarter than those without. They just think they are.
A valid point, worth repeating. I found in dabbling with Mensa for a while that intelligence itself is not the be all and end all of being "smart".
There are many components of what comprises a truly competent human being. Knowledge and intelligence are but two of them. |
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Location: Cork, Ireland | Congratulations! I went to college way too young (not yet 17), and can confirm that education (like youth) IS wasted on the young. Mind you I did learn 2 useful things, how to cook and how to play guitar. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Echoing what everyone else has said, enjoy it Randy. Good talking to you the other day. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Muzza, one of the joys of living in the "United??" States is that we have 50 states with different laws and a bunch of layers of government above and below the states with their laws. Keeps the lawyers employed. In Idaho we make it up as we go along. |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Mark, not just in Idaho. It seems to be the case everywhere you go.
Randy, Congrats on your new endeavor.
Coincidentally, this is a path that I am exploring as well. RN's that are willing to move around as Travel Nurses seem to be in high demand and are compensated fairly well. I know several that work in the Caribbean several months a year and cruise the islands the remainder of the time. That's the life for me!
I didn't get organized to start this term, but summer is looking good, especially if the job market remains as weak as it is now.
Blues |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | As Moody mentioned, RNs are in high demand, but not everywhere. We have a friend in Washington who hasn't been able to get a job as an RN in her town in 5 years.
It will get worse, partly because of the aging population, but also because the demand causes pay increases primarily in hospitals, which means there are fewer qualified nurses to teach, so there aren't enough teachers for more classes and nursing schools, so there aren't enough new nurses to replace the retiring ones, etc. If you can get into it, go for it. It looks like one of the few good long term markets. That being said, one of the local large hospitals announced significant layoffs yesterday because of the economy, but I don't think they laid off any nurses. |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | I had never heard of one before this but my next door neighbor is a "contract nurse" and he bops around to different hospitals as the need arises and it apparently arises pretty often because he's ALWAYS working. As with most freelance type deals, the pay is very good and you can pretty much call your own hours but the benefits suck (read: get your own) but it's working out well for him. |
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Location: big island | mahalo for all the support and kindness. what a club!
i don't view learning the nursing trade merely from the financial/job security factor. i perceive that any ministry of healing i may learn now will also be beneficial to those in need in a dreaded economy later. i'd like to be prepared to help, as much as i can, those who have no medical plan or medical access in the days to come. ultimately, i desire to learn triage/emergency/trauma diagnosis and treatment. y'never know, i may have to set up a field hospital high in the mountains one of these days. a civilian MASH unit!
and what medicine can't heal, music will. i'll need a tent full of ovations. |
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| Randy - I missed your second post. You're becoming an RN? When I mentioned I went for a different degree the second time around - that was it.
You'll do well, but clinical might be difficult for a grown man. When I went through in '75 there were still instructors out there who felt men should not be in nursing, and I ran into a couple in clinical (this is where most of the part time instructors are found) They were gunning for me but I had been a corpsman, so they couldn't get me on much. They hardly let me do anything in OB, but fortunately that is where I had worked in the military.
I subsequently went to anesthesia school, so now I am a CRNA.
I don't know how much my thirty year old experience will relate to what you will face, but if you think it can, e-mail me. |
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Location: big island | thanks, losov.
when i was a junior in high school i trained to be a hospital orderly (male CNA). i was the only one there at the time and ended up assisting in ER, OR, passing catheters for male and geriatric female patients prn throughout the hospital. joined the army reserve as a corpsman and began clinical specialist (91C) school. quaaludes and women sidetracked me from completing that course. went back home to hawaii and worked in various hospitals, on call for several years. i then got involved in sales, food brokerage, mortgage brokerage and the art gallery business. at 52, i'm glad for the many experiences i enjoyed and made very respectable income in, however, from this perspective i wish i had continued with nursing school while the army was paying for it. i probably would have gone on to be a physician's assistant and a warrant officer. i just wasn't military minded. |
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Location: Portland, OR | The downside: The process of school, learning testing, etc. is left behind with youth and has to be relearned. The upside: The disadvantages of youth such as immaturity, multiple distractions and the desire to simply get by, are replaced with a better perspective and direction.
Good luck in your studies. |
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Location: big island | in response to the window tinting: recently all the inspection stations here received new units to check window opacity. the rules were also made more stringent, "for the protection of law enforcement" and homeland security nonsense! so even if your vehicle passed last year's inspection, it is required to remove tint that does not meet the new guidelines. on a car all tinted windows are checked. SUV's and trucks may have darker tint on back side and rear windows. if a pro tint installer applies film that does not meet the guidelines, the business is fined $250 per window. if installed by private persons the owner of the vehicle gets the fine. an inspection station checks the tint first thing and if it does not pass they do not inspect further. i replaced my front driver's side and passenger side tint just a few months ago as the original tint was peeling. i took my car to two different stations yesterday hoping for different results. at the first station the lady told me my new tint did not meet the guidelines. i asked her to check it again and after she wiped an area of the glass with her sleeve, she got a better reading and said it "just barely passes". the back sides and rear are obviously darker and they fell far short of the max allowable opacity. this tint was on the car when i purchased it. she suggested i go to another station down the road that may allow my tint. i'm thinking "typical"!
next guy checks and my front side windows gave him high readings too, until he moved his unit around a bit. the rears were not close. so, in order to get the inspection done and a bumper sticker proving it, i've got to remove about 3/4 of my tinting. just about every vehicle in hawaii is tinted out of necessity. in an already dire economy this comes at a very bad time for us. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I have a great deal of experience with nurses, or one in particular. It still seems to be a girls club, but male nurses are much more accepted and in demand. I attended one nursing class with my wife-to-be about 1976. There was one guy in the whole class. I was jealous, especially when he went with a bunch of the girls on Spring break to Florida and I didn't get to go. It might still be a great career choice for a single guy, or even for a not single guy. |
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Location: big island | mark,
i recall back when i worked in the hospitals that male nurses were usually held in high regard and welcomed on the floors. in my non-professional capacity, i was always welcomed too, not necessarily for my brain but for my brawn! now what was said amongst the female nurses behind closed doors, i do not know. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I've never heard a female nurse say anything derogatory about a male nurse. I think the profession would love to have more men. Men were just expected to be doctors and women nurses back then. There are many more female doctors now, so I assume the stereotypes have faded.
I wonder what they would call a male midwife. |
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Location: big island | midhusband? midotherhalf? midjerk? |
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Location: Parrish, FL | midhusband? midotherhalf? midjerk?
Keep going, you're getting closer! :D |
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| Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I wonder what they would call a male midwife. A midwife. Haven't encountered any yet, but I hear they're out there. And yes, there are derogatory things said about male nurses. |
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Location: big island | and now, for the rest of the story:
so i went to a local window tinting firm for an estimate to install new, legal tint to the back and rear side windows. $185.00. i decided i'd bite the bullet because my daughters need sun protection and i like that others cannot easily view my kids in the back seat. so i make the appointment for the following day. i then drive to a third inspection station where the guy doesn't even check my windows and 15 minutes later, $15.00 broker, i'm headed home with a smile and an up-to-date inspection sticker! called and happily cancelled the tint appointment.
college is challenging me. especially algebra. but i'm really enjoying it all. so far... |
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Location: Chicago | Godspeed, Randy!
If it is any comfort: your OFC brother dobro has been stuck in a higher edumacational vortex for 30 years! As faculty at a few institutions over the years I've seen students of all ages. There is a simple rule, really: the older, the better. My best ever was an evening class of returning students, all in their 50s and 60s. The only learning community that regularly reproached me for not assigning enough! |
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Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Congratulations Randy! I'm thinking about going back to school myself if my company goes "belly up". The best of luck to you! |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Congrats, Randy. Like Mark, I just charged straight through, but I've also been teaching at the post-graduate level for 15 years and have some experience comparing the performance of the younger students against those who are attending later in life. With some exceptions, the mature students take it more seriously, have move confidence and experience in applying class lessons and case studies with their own life situations, and are generally more articulate and willing to share their opinions and experience in class. Older students often tend to be much better writers. On the downside, they tend to be more inflexible in group projects, come to class with much stronger values and opinions (adding to the inflexibility), and can be intimidated by younger students who grew up in a technical world. Older, career-changing students also tend to be more affluent and financially secure, which is immediately recognized and occasionally resented by the yonger students, which can then lead to some unintended consequences in group projects. One more thing . . . you'll notice the hotties, which is just about every one of them, but damnned if they'll notice you. Of course, this will be to your advantage because you'll have less distractions interfering with your studies. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | A bunch of my law school classmates were just out of the service. Most of them were very competitive, but like Brad said, more set in their ways. With some, that was a huge motivator. A few of them couldn't take any more of people telling them what to do and dropped out, but one of them told me that he was stationed in Idaho for a bit and I should check it out. Good advice. He followed me back here after a couple years.
My daughter just got accepted to Columbia grad school. I would have been too intimidated at her age, but she's been all over the world and has much broader life experience than I did at her age. In some respects the youngsters don't really know any boundaries, but I don't think many of them have the tenacity or stubbornness that comes from aging. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
In some respects the youngsters don't really know any boundaries, but I don't think many of them have the tenacity or stubbornness that comes from aging. The deceit, cunning and treachery of experience will overcome the strength, speed and stamina of youth every time. |
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Location: Michigan | Randy just remember that old trick to sit in front of the prettiest gal in class who is wearing the shortest skirt and drop your pencil on the floor behind you a few times. :D :D GWB |
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Location: Delaware | Good luck Randy. If you can do your schooling like you play that guitar, you'll be at the top of your class !
Dave |
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Location: big island | YEEEHAWWWW!! i just completed my first semester of college and my grades were posted today.
english 100 (expository writing) - A
psychology 100 - A
math 24 (algebra) - B (what a miracle!)
speech and communications - A
i certainly struggled through math and cannot believe i pulled a B. must've done a whole lot better on my final yesterday than i was confident about. what an adventure!
(and professor brad, i even had some "hottie" attention.) |
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Location: Indiana | Great job Randy. |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Congrats Randy!
I know how tough it is to go back to school. It takes a bit to get the brain firing on all cylinders. You done good out of the box. Keep your head down and it will be over before you know it.
You have an advantage over the 'newbies' in that you are there because you want to be, not because someone expects you to be there. Plus, all that practical experience gathered along the way gives you a perspective they won't have for another 30 years.
Brad |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Day-um great news Randy! Keep on keeping on. You're on a roll... |
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Posts: 489
| Do you start clinical this semester, or is this one all just classroom? |
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Posts: 5575
Location: big island | hey, thanks guys.
losov, i'm still in my pre-reqs. all classroom until next year.
next semester is biology and biology lab, microbiology and microbiology lab and advanced algebra. the algebra class is 5 days a week...yikes! |
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| Piece of cake. But e-mail me before you start clinical. |
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Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Proud of you Randy...enjoyed our talk last night...the Mrs. RN says to say congrats and to hang in there...
You can do it................ |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Good goin' dude! Keep up the good work.
...and relax, enjoy the ride. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Fantastic Randy! It doesn't surprize me that you got such good grades. It's been my experience that anyone who can play guitar as well as you do is also very intelligent. (On a side note, I have also noticed that good musicians can draw pretty well too - maybe you should take an elective art class!)
So when does the next semester start? |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | will do, losov. perhaps CRNA is in my future?
thanks, mike. it was great talking with you again also. love your version of "the guitar"!
it could be smoother, phil, but i'm enjoying it so far. ("if the mountain was smooth, you couldn't climb it")
you are kind, alison. and i do have some artistic abilities, albeit nothing marketable. i directed art galleries for several years though, selling the fine art of others more gifted.
august 24 begins the fall 2009 semester. |
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April 2004
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Nice work Randy! Congrats on completing the first step of your new career! |
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January 2006
Posts: 1486
Location: Michigan | randy i got to know a little bit about you when i went through my peri anal abcess years ago and you are a stitch.just because you are going back to learn and your not the teacher here i will bet that you will teach the students more than your teacher about life in general with just your experiences that you have had in life.its a two way street and you just might get called upon to share some of your life more than you think.good luck to you.school is a two way street so while you are learning remember that you are also teaching. :eek: GWB :eek: |
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Location: Melbourne Australia | Fantastic news!! Keep it up Randy!!! |
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Posts: 194
Location: Huntington Beach | Just roll with it!
I'm working on my final final right now for a certificate program in marketing at UCI. A little different situation - many older people in these programs - but a fair amount of recent grads. I'm 57 and haven't taken classes for over 20 years. Takes more discipline but I think I'm more disciplined in my older age. One bonus is the young pretty girls on campus here in Socal. I'm beginning to understand the dirty old man concept. In a climate where people wear less clothes they tend to stay in better shape. I ramble. Back to work - hit the books! |
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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by lanaki:
well...here i am, a 52 year old edumacational rebel. i absolutely despised high school where i was usually high, the class smartass and only did just enough to get shuffled on to the next grade.
swore i'd never devote myself to boring book learnin' and thought college would be a mere waste of my social time and lightning-like brain function.
fast forward 34 years: i'm headed out the door for my first day of higher education this morning. i've got tummy rumbles, which might be from last night's black bean garlic chicken & broccoli, but they feel like anxiety bubbles.
it's really odd. beside me on the floor is my book bag/backpack stuffed with the heavy textbooks for this semester and the haunting feelings of being a new kid in school are happening all over again. it's a feeling i was well-acquainted with in my younger days as i was a new kid in 19 different schools, but i was never comfortable in that role, nor did i ever have the chance to develop any long-term friendships. (no wonder i'm still a social outcast deserving of a vacation once in a while!)
i know i'm going to be just fine. i'll most likely still be the class smartass, but am also anticipating doing very well. i will try to remain humble in class as life's experiences have taught me many of the things these young whippersnapper college kids are attempting to learn from books. it'll be cool yearning to say, "i know, i know. pick me!" when i used to just cower in the corner.
have any of you attended college later in life? care to add any thoughts? So you'll be the adult student explaining how things really work?
Like Rodney in Back to School
you'll be fine |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by lanaki:
YEEEHAWWWW!! i just completed my first semester of college and my grades were posted today.
english 100 (expository writing) - A
psychology 100 - A
math 24 (algebra) - B (what a miracle!)
speech and communications - A
i certainly struggled through math and cannot believe i pulled a B. must've done a whole lot better on my final yesterday than i was confident about. what an adventure!
(and professor brad, i even had some "hottie" attention.) Congrats and you need to bring your guitar and play lots hotties will give ya attention. :) |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | the final day of speech class (last tuesday) was a potluck, food, festivities and fun kinda day. one of my classmates, a young man of 20, brought his guitar. i "just happened" to have two of my guitars out in the car, so i went and fetched 'em. we had a great little time hammin' it up. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by lanaki:
thanks, folks.
i'm headed for a 2 year RN degree initially. this will take me 3 years in order to get the pre-reqs handled first. i then may go on for the bachelor program.
there is a severe shortage of nurses here and then, only one in three students coming out of the pre-reqs will be accepted into the RN program due to a lack of teachers. i'm gonna have stay on top of the game.
Randy, nursing is a great career. My wife's been a nurse for about 30 years and loves it. The work is steady and the pay is great.
We were in Hawaii about 17 years ago and when people found out what my wife did, they kept trying to get her to stay. Then when they found out what I did, I kept hearing the term "divorce" come up in the conversation...... |
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Posts: 194
Location: Las Vegas, NV | Congrats, Randy! And the offer is still open on the math help, especially if I "need" to fly out there to help... |
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Posts: 715
| Well, the accounting class I took was online, so I didn't have the experience of being with younger people, at least not face to face.
Although the online experience was tough, I think I was better able to handle it than I would have if I were in my twenties.
You might be surprised at who is taking college classes in the daytime. It isn't just young people anymore, but sometimes retirees do show up in classes.
The important thing is to enjoy it for what it is, a learning experience. Sometimes you can find an "old soul" in someone who is in their twenties and an immature soul in someone who is a lot older.
Your experience can add a lot to the class you are taking. Think about it -- if you are taking a history class and they discuss stuff that happened in the 1960s - 1990s, you can add a lot to it because you've lived through it.
As I've gotten older, I am realizing that my experiences are adding up to an interesting "living history" book to those who are younger than me.
Best of luck in your classes. I'm sure that you will do well and that you will enjoy it.
Michelle |
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OT: a rebel looks at 52 ~ old dogs, new tricks...