Going Back to School... Again...

I just started back up after a 6 yr break from school and I love it. I am only taking one class 4cr at a time bacasue I stay home and have three children one being 22 mo so anymore would be a struggle at the moment. I quit school with one semester work of classes left. I now have knocked out 8cr (well almost class ends in a month). I have 10 more credits and I am done with my first degree. I feel like a person again. I know you are not there yet but being out of school/work for 6 yrs was a LONG time...lol if you are worried about it being a struggle in the beginning try just doing one class this summer to see if you can handle that and if all goes well take a full half load this fall! Best of luck and good for you for going back.

Don't be scared to go back to school because the kids are 5 years younger. My classmates range from 18 to mid 40s and I am 63. So you will bring much to the class room that they have not experienced yet. Do take the two semesters and just do your best. Just relax and do your best. If you can try to find a person that you relate to and maybe make them your study buddy.

I work full time and take a class each semester. I have failed two of my algebra classes due to different reasons - the first time was the first math class in 40 years the second time was due to medical issues with my husband. Retook the first class and passed and am now taking the second class and maintaining a high C close to B. So never think you are too old and don't fit in.

I am rooting for you to finish your classes. Interivews will come when you are done with your studies. Concentrate on school for now and then work on the job search.

The other S.

When I was in graduate school, one of my classmates was older than my mother! To this day, we are still very close b/c we shared a common interest in child developmnent and early education. I spent a lot of time studying at her dining room table while she fed us all and studied with us!

There are many many "non traditional" students in higher education today for many reasons- so much so that the idea of "non-traditional" has really been eliminated from the vernacular.

Don't try to relate to the younger students on "their level", but try to find common interests... why are you taking the same class? same major? common reasons for career goals. Just be yourself and remember that your "life experience" is a valuable resource in the classroom- use it and share it!

You can't necessarily go bar-hopping with them on the weekends, but if they are having a study group, go (even if it's only for an hour), if they go out after the final, go (even if it's only for an hour). I went out for dinner with my classmates following our law final 9 months preggers... because it didn't matter. We had made it through the course and were one step closer to being finished!

Enjoy it and remember that you have the ability to do the work- the rest will work itself out.

I dropped out of high school and didn't get my GED until I was 28. I started college classes 2 days after my 30th birthday. Was I worried/scared/nervous? You bet! I was so worried because I didn't do well in high school. I was really nervous that I wouldn't know how to do schoolwork, that I wouldn't know how to study, or that I'd be surrounded by kids fresh out of high school. I was very pleasantly surprised by how many adults were in my classes. Yes there were kids fresh out of high school, but there were equally as many adults with kids of their own there. I actually did really well with my classes and graduated with As and Bs even though I had dropped out of high school. I'm now back in school, going for a bachelor's degree this time, but I'm still enjoying the experience. There are days that are rough or that I don't have much freetime or family time, but I know it's all worth it.

If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me.

I went back to school after my first child was born. It was something I had to do because I would have never forgiven myself for walking away half finished. I had all of my general coursework done, but I had two solid years of classes left. Going back as a mom and an older student was one of the best things I could have done. For one thing, I was there to learn and succeed...period. I never missed classes, I studied harder, and I made better use of my time than I had before. My motivation was a lot greater, too, because it was TOUGH being a mom in school. There was no way I was going to mess up or slack off and delay graduation any longer than necessary. One of the great things was that most (not all, but most) of my professors were easier to relate to and were more flexible with me when I needed them to be (I did NOT take advantage of this, but you know how it is when you have kids...things happen.).

Looking back, it amazes me that we managed to pull it off, but from the time my first child was born here's what we did: My husband and I both went to school full time, alternating our schedules and trading responsibility for our son, and my husband also worked. After the first year, we moved, transferring to a new/better school. We added summer semester work, again alternating classes so one of us would be home with our son. Then at the end of the summer, we found out we were expecting again. I knew then I HAD to finish that year or it was never going to happen. I took two very full semesters during the pregnancy, gave birth one week before exams in the spring, and graduated two weeks after having my second child. My husband graduated a year later. We both graduated with high GPA's, and even though I have not gone back to work, we have both made good use of our respective degrees. He uses his to support our family, I use my skill set to torture our kids with an overabundance of research when they ask a simple question and to trade with friends for things like piano lessons for my kids in exchange for my abilities, among other things.

Sorry, I know this is a very long response, but I can't stress how GLAD I am that I didn't wimp out. And believe me, there were times it would have been soooo easy. Like being 9 months pregnant standing at the bottom of the hill I had to climb to get to all of my classes and thinking, I am going to die if I have to walk up this hill ONE MORE TIME. Or having a sick toddler and a paper due. Or just the months and months and months of stress and anxiety which don't make for a happy mom or wife. It really takes a long term perspective, a lot of determination, and of course, it helps to have someone who loves you, supports you (emotionally), and believes in your ability to do it. But you can do it, and regardless of what you do (work-wise) later, you will never regret finishing, and you will be glad that you can tell your kids sometime in the future, I did it, you can too!

I went back to school in 2003 after almost 9 years off. I had to basically start from scratch as I had failed some classes and changed my major completely to education. I completed 3 1/2 years of school in 3 years (no babies, so I was able to go more than full time). When I graduated we relocated to find a job (the teaching opportunities are few and far in between in Minnesota, but in Texas there was loads of opportunity). I LOVE what I do. It was hard work, but SO worth it in the end, and I wouldn't change a thing, even failing at first, because it made me appreciate it even more!

GOOD LUCK!!

I had a situation where I was trying to finish my graduate program all I had to do was write my thesis. I put it off and put it off and I eventually had to file for an extension so I didn't loose my classes that I had already taken (it usually takes a couple years before that happens but make sure you know how long you have to finish before they stop accepting what you have already done).

the moral to my story is- go back now!! Almost daily, when I was waiting on getting it done, I would think about it and dwell on not having it done and it was just so hard on my personal moral. Then, once I got it done, I looked back and said- what in the world was I waiting on?!

I could give you the slogans like- nothing worth having comes easy or hard work pays off, but you are looking for encouragment and that kind of gibberish makes me crazy. I will just tell you- GO NOW! Two part time semesters with a baby is probably best and in less than a calendar year you will be done!!

GOOD LUCK!!

I think it is normal to be nervous, it is a lot of unknown, but the bigger issue is if you let being scared overcome you and take over. I think it is great that you are looking at it from a reasonable perspective and not doing so much at one time so you can really focus on those class yet have some time with your family.

You do not need to go to school to make friends, but you never know you might create a bond with someone in the same classes. Do create a support system for yourself so when you feel like you are becoming overwhelmed that you can turn to them to get support and encouragement to keep going. If you are having trouble in a class do not be afraid to adders it with the teacher, asking for resources to get outside class help (maybe from the teacher him/herself or a tutor). Try to focus on succeeding in your classes, do not worry about what the future might or might not hold because right now what you do have control of is the time you spend in class and the homework/learning experience.

I have many friends with a kid or two, some with no significant other or with a boyfriend/fiance, who have successfully made it through high school and college, maybe at a slower pace but they did it because they had a support system of family and friends. Remind yourself that you are doing an amazing thing for yourself and your family, you can do it :)

Your fears are very normal. It took me a grand total of eight years to get my bachelor's degree (had a bad semester, a few moves, changed my major a few times, switched schools). One of the great things about college is you get a second chance, if you have a bad semester, you usually get a redo. You had a rough semester. This time around you probably won't be moving and I hope you are back in good health. ANd even though you didn't pass those classes, you have heard them before. You know what to expect and you know what you will struggle with, so this time you can be more productive in your studies, As the end drew nearer in my degree plan I was extremely worried about the job search...what would potential employers think about how long it took me to graduate? What if I didn't find anything? What if I hated it when I started? It was a constant loop in my head. In the end I am so grateful and proud of the degree. Yes, it definitely took longer than it should to acquire, but it's mine now and no one can take that away. The job hunt was tough...I really had to learn how to interview for a job. (BTW NO one cared or noticed how long it took me). But I did get offers and I finally found one I wanted to take. I absolutely loved my job! It was fantastic. More than a job though, is the freedom that little piece of paper can offer. It gives you options. Hang in there. Keep imagining the day your daughter will get to watch across that stage. It will be worth it!

I totally understand. I went back to school last year. I'm 30 years old. I was scared of all those things. But now I love it. There's people my age in my classes. Returning students, are parents, have jobs, and responsibilties. All things I can relate to. It can be hard to juggle everything but it's worth. I say go back. You won't regret it.
Good luck.

Never, never, never take the counsel of your fears. You have better things than fears to use to make wise decisions.

Sometimes the worry about what MIGHT happen is worse than the real thing - like having a toothache and not having an appointment at the dentist's office until tomorrow. What ends up happening is often not as bad as all your nightmare anxieties about it were.

You might want to write down all your anxieties... AND what you can do if they become realities. Will the class be too hard? Well, what if it is? What will you do? Go to the teacher and ask for advice? What else? What if the other students are all younger than you? What will you do? Joke with them about being the ol' lady of the classroom and get on with the real business of learning? Will you be able to handle home and school? What can you do? Think of possible solutions and write them down. Even off-the-wall or crazy answers are acceptable in this exercise. Often the craziest answers have a the most value in the long run because they get your mind going.

This is a way of facing your fears and staring them down.