If you look in the mirror and there’s more gray in your hair than Carter has little liver pills you may wonder, “what the heck am I doing!?" The butterflies in your stomach are wreaking havoc with your French toast breakfast. It’s only the first day of school---yours. So you’re going to college and you’re as old as dirt---or at least, that’s the way you feel and that’s the way you’re afraid the other students will think of you. You are so nervous that you don’t know whether to vomit or crawl back into bed, burying yourself under the covers for the next few months or maybe both.
Starting college for the first time, even at fifty one years young, doesn’t have to be a life-threatening experience. Think of it as your own personal improvement regime that you had just put off until the kids were grown and gone. Sort of like, spending quality time with yourself. You’ve registered for your classes and bought your books and supplies. You can’t wimp out now. So, get yourself out of that bathroom, grab your brief case, and get yourself down to that campus now!
Ok. I can do this. I can do this. That phase has run over and over in your mind like a stuck 78 rpm as you drive through the parking lot looking for a place to park. So what if the entrance to the building is a mile away!? You left the house at six o’clock and your first class doesn’t start until eight leaving you an hour and fifteen minutes to walk through the door of your first ever college course.
The five or so students that have arrived ahead of you mistake you for their instructor. It’s ok to feel flattered they are all just babies and the pink flush in your cheeks will be mistaken for makeup. Not wanting to draw attention to yourself, you pick a seat in the middle of the classroom as opposed to the very front or the very back.
The clock ticks and the classroom begins to fill with noisy students, talking and laughing without a sign of the trepidation that you feel. A hush falls over the room and you look up to see the instructor standing behind his desk.
He reminds you of your son---when he was much younger. Then you realize you had been praying that he would be older---much older but it’s not to be that at least one person in the room would be older than you.
Suddenly you relax and smile---a very senior gentleman has just entered the room and taken a seat just ahead of you. His hair, unlike your salt and pepper gray, is snow white. He smiles and everyone smiles back thinking, you are sure, that he must be Santa Claus with his rosy cheeks and red nose. The only thing missing was the beard---which he probably doesn’t wear during the summer.
At the end of the day you are strolling to your car, waving at the other students and calling them by name. You feel good. Smiling to yourself, you think about the events of the day. The younger students and instructors have been very solicitous, so age does have its advantages. You have never been treated with such respect as you have received this first day of college and you are gratified to find that your worldly experience has held you in good stead throughout all your classes. All in all, it has been a good day and you are already looking forward to tomorrow.
Going back to college at or past middle age needn’t be an unpleasant experience. Just think about the knowledge from life experiences that you have to share with your much younger fellow students and teachers. A lot of the things that they can only read about, you have already lived.
So if you’re thinking about going to college, don’t hesitate because you might feel out of place at your age. Take it from someone who’s been there---it’s an experience well worth the investment. I went to college part-time for several years and finished right after I turned fifty four and some of my more enjoyable and memorable times were spent on the campus of Eastfield Community College in Texas and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro .
Don’t ever let age alone hold you back from anything that you really want to do.
END
by Sandra E. Graham, author of “Amos Jakey" and “Nicolina", published by American Book Publishing. Visit my website for more info on My Books and Articles. http://www.sandragraham-articles-books.com
this was a well written and fascinating article about hope and perseverance and willpower. determination, faith, desire, and positivity.
congratulations, you deserve it. it's always good to read a strongly positive article, although, believe me, i'm sure there were some tough times for you as well. college is a lot of work. thanks for sharing your experience,
Thanks for reading and commenting, Sue. Glad you enjoyed the article. I actually did start college late in life and never regretted. Had a wonderful time and was a fantastice experience. Not to mention how much it helped me in my life goals.
Thanks you Roschelle. Starting college at an older age can be quite tramatic, but it works out for the best. I enjoyed every day and every class. People seem to be much more compasionate for the older student.
Sandra, I wanted to go back to school to become a teacher. It seems they need male teachers down here in Florida. Well I don't have a degree yet I have about 90 credits or just over three years and about 45 years business experience. So no money, no help, throw them in the lake of forgetfulness. No I found out it is all about money. Hey I have been teaching since 91, full time and sub and I havee held a busines career, yes and in demand for challanged students and still no help. I gave it up, but go get em gal, you are never too old.
That's right, Robert---you are only as old as you feel---some days I feel older than others, but there are still a lot of things I would like to do and learn before I give up completely.
» left by nancy green from Jonesboro, ar. (43 days 5 hours ago.)
yes this article took me back as an older student many years ago finishing my degree in history. I felt the butterflies as well but the thirst for knowledge and the education won the day for me --and the years that followed.
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