Going to College….As An Adult

I started back to school at the beginning of the year and was both excited and nervous!  I was excited because I was going to be taking classes for a new career that would allow me to support my family.  I was nervous because I was probably going to be older than the many students attending just out of high school, not to mention the fact that it had been about 8 years since I finished with my Bachelor’s degree.

On my first day of class, I realized that I WASN’T in shape and that it had been a long time since I “speed-walked” across a college campus.  Let me tell ya….my legs were definitely burning that first day of class!  My first class was Business Law.  Prior to the first day of classes, I had gone online and printed out the syllabus and several different papers and assignments he had posted online.  I knew right away that this professor was going to have high expectations.

On my way to Business Law, I had an issue finding the classroom….mainly, I couldn’t find it!  I ran into a few other students looking for the class and we were finally able to find it.  The professor welcomed everyone to class and began talking about his expectations of the students and himself for the semester.  I was seated in the back of the classroom although I prefer the front.  He had us go around the classroom and say our name and why we were taking Business Law this semester.  I learned that I wasn’t the only older student going back to school.

Halfway into the class, he had the students get up and meet someone in the classroom.  I turned around and talked to a student who was attending Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, who actually ended up being in our group for the semester (that’s you Bijal – lol)!  He stopped everyone and had us meet someone else in the classroom.  I headed up to the front to talk to a girl who was also in the paralegal program.  She also ended up being in our group for the semester, as well as in my Family Law class (that’s you Jennifer – lol)!

As I talked with classmates, I immediately became comfortable with the students around me and no longer saw age as any factor that mattered.  If anything, my age and “real life” experience would put me ahead of the game, which I have found it has done at different points throughout the semester.  I was excited to get started on my classes!

One thing I have found as I have been taking classes is that passing is not good enough for me.  I want the A’s!  When I see A’s on my homework assignments and exams, it creates within me a feeling of accomplishment and happiness.  I have received different emails and Facebook comments since I started back to school about moms who wanted to go back but thought they wouldn’t be able to do it or were too old.  Let me tell you, you CAN do it and you are never too old to go back to school!  Now is the perfect time to do it!