I am currently in my 4th semester of junior college. While I am not like many other students who are fresh out of high school, I still face the same challenges as my younger classmates. Perhaps, dare I say it, maybe even more challenges. Many don't have the responsibilities that I currently hold like children, a house, dogs, a cat, early morning school runs, homework battles, teenager issues, endless laundry, the list goes on (and on and on). But, to each their own, our challenges are only challenging to ourselves.
Moving on. So, on my way home last Friday from class, I realized I had learned quite a few things about this new college domain I have voluntarily entered, and still so much more to learn.
10 things I have learned in the past 2 years as a 32-year-old college student...
1. Finances. While I am lucky to receive a bit of financial aid, going to back to school is a huge financial burden! Aid doesn't cover everything. Perhaps if I was 18, fresh out of high school with nothing but me to be responsible for, it would be different... for now. It's a struggle. But, we press on. We make it work. Plus, we know the end result is way worth it.
2. Time. What is that... time? It's gone. Sucked up and destroyed by endless hours of homework, study time, papers, projects, presentations, driving. Any extra time I have is devoted to my family and what little time they have to give to mom. They, too, are just as busy as I am with homework, afterschool activities and horrendous group projects (which I feel should be outlawed!!!)
3. Gas Stations will ALWAYS be jam-packed when you need to get in and get out. No lie. If you are running behind and need gas, just know you will be late and everyone in the world will need gas at exactly the hour you need it. It's a given. Did I mention they will all be driving vehicles that need no less than 110 gallons of gas? Cold hard truth, guys.
4. Stop lights will all be red on your way to class. Every. Single. One. I leave an hour early for class because I know the street lights are jerks. It's like they know I'm coming and turn red just for me.
5. #4 leads me to asshole drivers. All of them will be out in the hour you are making your way to class. They cut you off, break check every 30 seconds, driver slower than grandma on a Sunday afternoon and usually have their cell phones in their faces. Again, cold hard truth. Oh,
wait, the tractors. I live in the middle of nowhere, 45 minutes through back roads and small towns to get there. Tractor season is the worst. When harvest season hits, leave extra early!
6. Made plans this weekend? Bam! 50 hours of homework! Yes, you will have mass amounts of homework on days you already have 6 million things going on and have nothing on weekends you have all the time in the world. It's like Professors have social radar. Bleh.
7. Your social life will disappear. I have friends I haven't seen since the semester started. My family and I haven't left the valley in what seems like an eternity. BUT, if they are good people, they will understand and won't hold it against you if your only communication in 2 months is only via text message. Once summer returns, like will resume as normal. Or at least you hope.
8. Perhaps this one is just specifically for me... I always feel like I am the oldest person in the class. I know I'm not in most cases. Most are in my particular life path shoes. It makes me self-conscious and super anxious. As the semesters have come and gone it's a little easier. I always find it funny that when life outside of school comes up and they find out I have a 13 yo and a 9 yo, their surprise face is to die for. Though I will always welcome the "OMG, I thought you were like 25!" comment. That eases my holy crap am I the oldest one here complex.
9. Technology will be your best friend and your worst nightmare. I figured this out real fast when I had to ask my 13-year-old for help with google docs and the such. I never felt so lost. Thankfully, he's my tech guru and took me under his slightly stinky teenage wings. He even let me borrow his calculator for my math midterm today! Such a sweetheart <3 nbsp="" p="">
10. One tiny piece of paper can mean the world to you. I am on a journey to obtain a BA in early childhood education. On the way, I have earned an Associate Teacher certificate. It's a stepping stone. It gives me physical proof of my hard work so far and it means the world to me. It's a nice little boost to my confidence that I might actually be able to reach the end of this tunnel. There might actually one day be a light, and end, a final semester and a final class. It gives me hope.
Honestly, going back to school has been an all around amazing experience. I feel like I have a purpose again and that's important to me. I hope that I am showing my kids that you're never too old to learn and dreams are never out of reach and it's never too late. I am the first in my family to attend, follow through and hopefully earn a degree in the near future.
Moving on. So, on my way home last Friday from class, I realized I had learned quite a few things about this new college domain I have voluntarily entered, and still so much more to learn.
10 things I have learned in the past 2 years as a 32-year-old college student...
1. Finances. While I am lucky to receive a bit of financial aid, going to back to school is a huge financial burden! Aid doesn't cover everything. Perhaps if I was 18, fresh out of high school with nothing but me to be responsible for, it would be different... for now. It's a struggle. But, we press on. We make it work. Plus, we know the end result is way worth it.
2. Time. What is that... time? It's gone. Sucked up and destroyed by endless hours of homework, study time, papers, projects, presentations, driving. Any extra time I have is devoted to my family and what little time they have to give to mom. They, too, are just as busy as I am with homework, afterschool activities and horrendous group projects (which I feel should be outlawed!!!)
3. Gas Stations will ALWAYS be jam-packed when you need to get in and get out. No lie. If you are running behind and need gas, just know you will be late and everyone in the world will need gas at exactly the hour you need it. It's a given. Did I mention they will all be driving vehicles that need no less than 110 gallons of gas? Cold hard truth, guys.
4. Stop lights will all be red on your way to class. Every. Single. One. I leave an hour early for class because I know the street lights are jerks. It's like they know I'm coming and turn red just for me.
5. #4 leads me to asshole drivers. All of them will be out in the hour you are making your way to class. They cut you off, break check every 30 seconds, driver slower than grandma on a Sunday afternoon and usually have their cell phones in their faces. Again, cold hard truth. Oh,
wait, the tractors. I live in the middle of nowhere, 45 minutes through back roads and small towns to get there. Tractor season is the worst. When harvest season hits, leave extra early!
6. Made plans this weekend? Bam! 50 hours of homework! Yes, you will have mass amounts of homework on days you already have 6 million things going on and have nothing on weekends you have all the time in the world. It's like Professors have social radar. Bleh.
7. Your social life will disappear. I have friends I haven't seen since the semester started. My family and I haven't left the valley in what seems like an eternity. BUT, if they are good people, they will understand and won't hold it against you if your only communication in 2 months is only via text message. Once summer returns, like will resume as normal. Or at least you hope.
8. Perhaps this one is just specifically for me... I always feel like I am the oldest person in the class. I know I'm not in most cases. Most are in my particular life path shoes. It makes me self-conscious and super anxious. As the semesters have come and gone it's a little easier. I always find it funny that when life outside of school comes up and they find out I have a 13 yo and a 9 yo, their surprise face is to die for. Though I will always welcome the "OMG, I thought you were like 25!" comment. That eases my holy crap am I the oldest one here complex.
9. Technology will be your best friend and your worst nightmare. I figured this out real fast when I had to ask my 13-year-old for help with google docs and the such. I never felt so lost. Thankfully, he's my tech guru and took me under his slightly stinky teenage wings. He even let me borrow his calculator for my math midterm today! Such a sweetheart <3 nbsp="" p="">
10. One tiny piece of paper can mean the world to you. I am on a journey to obtain a BA in early childhood education. On the way, I have earned an Associate Teacher certificate. It's a stepping stone. It gives me physical proof of my hard work so far and it means the world to me. It's a nice little boost to my confidence that I might actually be able to reach the end of this tunnel. There might actually one day be a light, and end, a final semester and a final class. It gives me hope.
Honestly, going back to school has been an all around amazing experience. I feel like I have a purpose again and that's important to me. I hope that I am showing my kids that you're never too old to learn and dreams are never out of reach and it's never too late. I am the first in my family to attend, follow through and hopefully earn a degree in the near future.
Until then, crazy drivers, streetlight jerks and long-lost social life and technology battles for me!
Oh, did I tell you about the sunsets on my way to my night classes? Here, I'll show you...
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