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Posts: 5575
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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December 2004
Posts: 4394
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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March 2002
Posts: 15680
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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Posts: 3969
| 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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September 2006
Posts: 10777
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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December 2006
Posts: 6268
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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Posts: 1792
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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October 2006
Posts: 5575
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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Posts: 1792
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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Posts: 15680
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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March 2005
Posts: 12761
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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January 2009
Posts: 379
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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October 2007
Posts: 2711
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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October 2005
Posts: 5332
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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Posts: 4389
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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Posts: 4413
| Good Luck. |
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March 2007
Posts: 843
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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September 2006
Posts: 10777
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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October 2006
Posts: 5575
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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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Good Luck with it! |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
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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April 2008
Posts: 2985
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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March 2005
Posts: 12761
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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March 2005
Posts: 5567
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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August 2002
Posts: 8307
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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OT: a rebel looks at 52 ~ old dogs, new tricks...
