I loved summer school when I was a full-time nontrad. Summer school is good for several reasons:
1. Shorter "semesters"
2. More compact lessons
3. Easier than the regular semester
4. If you don't particularly like the class, you're only in it for 8 weeks as opposed to 16.
5. You can study and tan at the same time.
I am a huge advocate of summer school, especially at night at the local community college. Being a nontrad is hard enough. Any chance you have to make it easier is a good thing. Summer school makes being a nontraditional student a little bit easier.
I will be taking one class this summer - Cultural Anthropology. Why? Because I want to stay in the mode of learning, studying and writing. Besides, I am too addicted to education to quit cold turkey now! I love learning. Now that I am "staff" at UT instead of "student", I can take classes (up to 9 hours) for free. I may as well take advantage of that perk!
To all my fellow nontrads who are also doing summer school, hang in there and keep plugging along. The end product, your degree, is well worth the effort you are making now. I start class June 8. Stay tuned . . .
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Where Are You in the Journey?
I recently finished the first portion of my nontrad journey - I got my Bachelor's degree. Is a Master's degree in my future? Perhaps. Where are you in your nontrad journey - Thinkin' about it? Newbie? Been at it for a while? or Woo-hoo, I have one semester left!! I have been in all those places.
Each stage has its own unique characteristics:
1. Thinkin' about it: Can you really teach an old dog new tricks? Is it really like riding a bike? What will my friends and family say? Can I really do this? My advice: just do it!!
2. Newbie: Overwhelmed, nervous, may exhibit a lack of self-confidence, scared, uncertain, excited. My advice: You can do this.
3. Been at it a while: Ya, ya, what else is new?, knows better than to schedule an 8am class on a Monday, faces in class look familiar, jokes around with the profs. My advice: Keep plugging away, you're almost there!
4. Woo-hoo, I have one semester left: Have I taken all the classes I need?, been at it so long, I can write the paper in my sleep or two hours before its due, guess it's time to figure out what's next. My advice: Congratulations!! Start looking ahead.
Wherever you are in your nontraditional student journey, know that you are not alone. There is a whole community of nontrads out there - online and on campus. You CAN do this!!! The journey may seem long, but remember that the journey begins with a single step. Good luck to all those nontrads in summer school. Stay tuned . . .
Each stage has its own unique characteristics:
1. Thinkin' about it: Can you really teach an old dog new tricks? Is it really like riding a bike? What will my friends and family say? Can I really do this? My advice: just do it!!
2. Newbie: Overwhelmed, nervous, may exhibit a lack of self-confidence, scared, uncertain, excited. My advice: You can do this.
3. Been at it a while: Ya, ya, what else is new?, knows better than to schedule an 8am class on a Monday, faces in class look familiar, jokes around with the profs. My advice: Keep plugging away, you're almost there!
4. Woo-hoo, I have one semester left: Have I taken all the classes I need?, been at it so long, I can write the paper in my sleep or two hours before its due, guess it's time to figure out what's next. My advice: Congratulations!! Start looking ahead.
Wherever you are in your nontraditional student journey, know that you are not alone. There is a whole community of nontrads out there - online and on campus. You CAN do this!!! The journey may seem long, but remember that the journey begins with a single step. Good luck to all those nontrads in summer school. Stay tuned . . .
Saturday, May 14, 2011
What Graduation Means to Me
I did it! I finally graduated with my degree in History, Environmental Studies minor. It has been a long road that at times was rather difficult. Yet, here I am. I finally have my degree.
What does graduation mean to me? It means the obvious - no more exams, papers and reading incredibly boring books. No more juggling study groups, group work or semester-long projects. It also means the not-so-obvious - I am strong, I am determined, I am capable. I am able to accomplish goals and I am not afraid to pursue my dreams. I am able to focus in spite of personal crisis.
Graduation also means I have a great network of profs, staff and classmates as an alum. It means I can get the license plate frame that says, "Alumni - University of Tennessee". It means that I can hold my head high in the midst of trials because I did something great! As a 40-something mother of three, I went back to college and got my degree!!
The most significant thing that graduation means to me is that I learned a great deal about myself. These past four years, and the years since I first set foot on a college campus in August of 1980 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, have shown me that I do indeed have what it takes to pursue my dreams and achieve my goals. What next? Stay tuned to find out . . .
What does graduation mean to me? It means the obvious - no more exams, papers and reading incredibly boring books. No more juggling study groups, group work or semester-long projects. It also means the not-so-obvious - I am strong, I am determined, I am capable. I am able to accomplish goals and I am not afraid to pursue my dreams. I am able to focus in spite of personal crisis.
Graduation also means I have a great network of profs, staff and classmates as an alum. It means I can get the license plate frame that says, "Alumni - University of Tennessee". It means that I can hold my head high in the midst of trials because I did something great! As a 40-something mother of three, I went back to college and got my degree!!
The most significant thing that graduation means to me is that I learned a great deal about myself. These past four years, and the years since I first set foot on a college campus in August of 1980 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, have shown me that I do indeed have what it takes to pursue my dreams and achieve my goals. What next? Stay tuned to find out . . .
I Did It!!
Friday, May 13, 2011, I graduated from the University of Tennessee with my Bachelor's in History, Environmental Studies minor. It was a proud, yet surreal moment for me - a moment that I never thought I'd see. Yes, I persevered through a host of trials (my dad's death, divorce, Spanish) and emerged victorious, but it was still a long road.
There was one time where I seriously thought about packing it all in and giving up. I had gone to see Dr. Sacco, my history prof that semester, about my failure to meet the requirements of the History Senior Thesis class. She gave me the dressing down of my life! I walked out of her office and thought, "Maybe I'm not supposed to be here. Maybe I really don't have what it takes to be a good student and pursue my degree. Maybe there is just too much going on right now." But I really wanted my degree, so I stuck it out and kept going. There were several people along the way who counseled me to delay my education, especially in the midst of the marital difficulties I was facing. To be honest, the most stable thing in my life at that point was school. I knew I could count on the routine of daily classes, exams and papers. I think being a student saved my sanity!
As I look back on my nontrad tenure, there are several things that stand out:
1. Just do it!! Grit your teeth, forge ahead and don't look back!
2. Silence the naysayers. Even though I had lots of positive support, there were still a few negative voices. They were the ones who were my inspiration to continue. "Oh, ya? I'll show you!!"
3. Anything is possible. Don't let life stand in the way of achieving your dreams.
4. Find support. Being an older nontrad can sometimes be a difficult place to be. Build a good support group of family, friends and other nontrads.
5. Have faith in yourself. You can achieve things you never thought possible when you make up your mind to just do it!
My children, especially my daughter, have been greatest cheerleaders. We've walked this road together so many times (studying for exams, writing papers, etc.). I think being a nontrad has served to further cement my relationships with my college-aged children.
Are there things I would have changed? Yes. I would have studied more, read more and tried to be better student in the face of personal crisis. That may sound like I am being hard on myself and I guess I am. However, I do have a chance to be a better student as I will be taking one class a semester to keep myself "sharp" and possibly work toward a Master's degree. There are other things I would not change - getting to know some of my profs, making friends with my younger classmates and working in the EECS department.
All in all, it's been a great ride, but I'm glad its over. I will still blog about being a nontrad because I will still be a nontrad. I love being a student! Stay tuned . . .
There was one time where I seriously thought about packing it all in and giving up. I had gone to see Dr. Sacco, my history prof that semester, about my failure to meet the requirements of the History Senior Thesis class. She gave me the dressing down of my life! I walked out of her office and thought, "Maybe I'm not supposed to be here. Maybe I really don't have what it takes to be a good student and pursue my degree. Maybe there is just too much going on right now." But I really wanted my degree, so I stuck it out and kept going. There were several people along the way who counseled me to delay my education, especially in the midst of the marital difficulties I was facing. To be honest, the most stable thing in my life at that point was school. I knew I could count on the routine of daily classes, exams and papers. I think being a student saved my sanity!
As I look back on my nontrad tenure, there are several things that stand out:
1. Just do it!! Grit your teeth, forge ahead and don't look back!
2. Silence the naysayers. Even though I had lots of positive support, there were still a few negative voices. They were the ones who were my inspiration to continue. "Oh, ya? I'll show you!!"
3. Anything is possible. Don't let life stand in the way of achieving your dreams.
4. Find support. Being an older nontrad can sometimes be a difficult place to be. Build a good support group of family, friends and other nontrads.
5. Have faith in yourself. You can achieve things you never thought possible when you make up your mind to just do it!
My children, especially my daughter, have been greatest cheerleaders. We've walked this road together so many times (studying for exams, writing papers, etc.). I think being a nontrad has served to further cement my relationships with my college-aged children.
Are there things I would have changed? Yes. I would have studied more, read more and tried to be better student in the face of personal crisis. That may sound like I am being hard on myself and I guess I am. However, I do have a chance to be a better student as I will be taking one class a semester to keep myself "sharp" and possibly work toward a Master's degree. There are other things I would not change - getting to know some of my profs, making friends with my younger classmates and working in the EECS department.
All in all, it's been a great ride, but I'm glad its over. I will still blog about being a nontrad because I will still be a nontrad. I love being a student! Stay tuned . . .
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
No Homework
Not sure what to do with myself now that I don't have any homework to do every night- no papers to write, no verb declensions to study, no books to read, and no information to memorize. Hmm - what to do?
This is an unusual place for me to be because for the past four years, I have been going to school non-stop as well as working part time and Momming full time. I won't be here long, though, because I will be taking a summer school class. Imagine the looks I am going to get when I introduce myself and say, "I already graduated. I am just taking this class for fun."
As an employee of the university, I can take classes for free (up to 9 hours). So, as long as I am taking the classes for free, why not take something I like (that is also available at night)? I am going to take Cultural Anthropology on Wednesday nights this summer. I have already taken Cultural Geography - it is going to be interesting to see where the two intersect. That's another cool aspect of taking a class a semester - where does all this knowledge intersect? Is it at the spatial perfect storm? The intellect's whirlpool that leads to an upside-down world of rational free-floating inquisitive thought? Maybe it will just all make sense some day.
For now, I am basking in the glow of no homework, another successful semester and graduation. Homework will come soon enough and then I will probably complain about the amount of reading and writing I will have to do for class. Come Friday, I will finally have my Bachelor's degree in something I like. That will be a huge accomplishment!! Stay tuned . . .
This is an unusual place for me to be because for the past four years, I have been going to school non-stop as well as working part time and Momming full time. I won't be here long, though, because I will be taking a summer school class. Imagine the looks I am going to get when I introduce myself and say, "I already graduated. I am just taking this class for fun."
As an employee of the university, I can take classes for free (up to 9 hours). So, as long as I am taking the classes for free, why not take something I like (that is also available at night)? I am going to take Cultural Anthropology on Wednesday nights this summer. I have already taken Cultural Geography - it is going to be interesting to see where the two intersect. That's another cool aspect of taking a class a semester - where does all this knowledge intersect? Is it at the spatial perfect storm? The intellect's whirlpool that leads to an upside-down world of rational free-floating inquisitive thought? Maybe it will just all make sense some day.
For now, I am basking in the glow of no homework, another successful semester and graduation. Homework will come soon enough and then I will probably complain about the amount of reading and writing I will have to do for class. Come Friday, I will finally have my Bachelor's degree in something I like. That will be a huge accomplishment!! Stay tuned . . .
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