My parents would have sent me straight out of high
school. I had the grades and could have gotten the scholarships. But
I didn't think that I was ready. So I joined the US Navy. I know
that they were all proud of me but, I could feel that they though I squandered
by chance at an education. I served in the navy for 6 years most of which
as a Cryogenics Tech. When I got out of the Navy I secured a job with a
company that pays well and has tuition reimbursement. So I thought I should try
college. I enrolled at a local state run tech school with the intent of getting
my associates of arts. I did OK but I only lasted 2 semesters. A
couple of years later I decided to try again, this time I enrolled in a local
university. I only stuck it out 1 semester this time. I then decided
that college just wasn't for me. The classrooms that had 100+ people in
them and being treated like I was 18 all over again just wasn't for me.
And what did it matter anyway I had one of the highest paying jobs in the area
and most of those people who had a degree were only bringing home a fraction of
what I was. That piece of paper was just that a piece of meaningless
paper.
Then in the Late summer of '02 I
realized that even though I didn't need that degree, I wanted it. I wanted
to prove to me and only me that I could do it. It was the only thing that
I had tried in life that I hadn't succeeded at and it was starting to bug
me. This time though I went to several colleges and tried to find one that
fit my learning style. After touring and talking to several schools in the
area I decided on one that was designed for the adult student and had evening
classes that met only one a week. This seemed perfect and after the first
semester it was. However near the end on the second semester I realized
that even with the tuition assistance that I couldn't afford to continue my
schooling there. Each semester was costing near $2000 for 6 credit hours
and my limit for assistance was $5250 a year.
I went in search again and found
a branch of Columbia College in a town
close by. This was even better. The tuition was substantially cheaper
and they ran 8 week semesters. Going to so many Navy schools had
taught me to learn fast and I got bored with 12-16 week semesters.
Other nice things about going to a
adult oriented college is that the professors and administrators respect that
you an adult and realize that life happens. For instance if a cell phone
vibrates ( notice I didn't say rings that is a no no) it's ok to step out of
class and take the call. Most assignment due dates are negotiable to some
extent. The best thing is the way the professors run the classes. Unlike
the state run schools I went to where you sit and they lecture, Most of the
"lecture" time is more of a professor led discussion. I guess
they can do more of this with a max of only 25 people in their classes.
I guess that I should give some kudos
to Columbia's admin staff also, they have treated me like a person from the
first time I talked to them. Unlike most schools who treat you like dirt
and expect you to go to their school because they are the biggest or cheapest
game in town.
I have been in school year round now
for 2 years and I am currently 6 credits away from my first associates degree
and over half way to my Bachelors in Business. That may take a while though, I'm
considering double majoring with psychology. Any how I'm 2 years in and I
am still maintaining a 4.0. I'm sure that something will mess that up
along the way but for now I'm pretty proud of it!
Right now I'm enjoying school so much
that I am making plans to go on to grad school when I finish my bachelors.
I want to do this so that in the future I can teach part time in one of the
local colleges to hopefully give some of what I learn to them. Another
idea that I had was that when I retire, being a professor would be the perfect
job for the cooler months and would give me extra money all summer to travel!
The point that I'd like to leave you
with it that college should be done on your terms if it isn't it won't mean
anything to you and you won't learn much while your there even if you do have
decent grades and that It doesn't matter how old you are you can go to school, I
had a lady in one of my history classes that is in her late 50's.