Sometimes dreams can come true
I don’t know if they will for me, but it’s looking up.
27 years ago I ran out of money and quit college with 6 hours remaining to be completed on my degree. Or at least that’s the story I’ve always told everyone. Yes, tuition tripled but there was a chance I could have gone one more year working 3 jobs to see it through. But truth is that I had an extended manic episode where I did a lot of self-destructive things and burned a lot of bridges, as we so often do during those times. When the mania finally broke, so did I, and was left with hundreds of little shards of myself to gather up and try to glue back together. I didn’t have the courage or the energy to go back to school, and by the time I did, I was pregnant and beginning a new life somewhere else. The time had passed.
Now, every time I fill out a census or survey and have to check “High School diploma only” I feel lousy and unqualified for anything. My career, if you could call it that, is strictly self-taught and every day I’m scrambling trying to keep up with and compete against kids half my age, all of whom have college degrees in hand. I’ve got a great portfolio, but without a degree in something–anything–you can’t get a foot in the door most places. I worry about that a lot. If I lost my current job, I could go to work for McDonalds or Wal-Mart. That’s about it.
A couple of times in the last 20 years I’ve looking into going back to school. I’d pick up the catalog for Eastern Washington University and send off for a copy of my transcript. Then each time, I found out I was pregnant. College just didn’t seem to be a part of my future.
But a few weeks ago I decided to look into it again. I started with my old school, thinking that if I could swing one summer school session in Iowa, I could maybe finish up. The problem there is that my degree track was for a Bachelor of Music, and I left with my senior recital still to be completed. There’s no way I could make that up now. But other schools have opened Liberal Studies or non-majored programs for older adults — maybe Buena Vista College had, too.
So I’m in the process of finding out. The first thing I learned is that it’s no longer BVC - it’s Buena Vista University now, and in addition to programs on 6 campuses, they offer online classes. Yesterday I got an email from an admissions counselor saying she would go over my transcript, find out what options are available to me, and get back to me.
It’s a long shot, but maybe–just maybe–this will work out in a way I can afford.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Oh, Terry!!!!!!! You just rock so hard.
THere **is** a way, and I’m certain you will find it.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Cool.
I love having students like you in my classes: people who have some idea how the world works, how long a decade is, how things have really changed, make the best history students. Probably true in a lot of other fields as well: returning and older students are often the ones we remember best, because they have some there there.
If you ever want an “other side of the desk” perspective on the higher ed experience, let me know.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Go for it!!! I didn’t drop out, but I did go back for a MALS 25 years after I got my BSE. I loved the experience.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Hope it works! As a university teacher, I can tell you that the ‘non-traditional’ students are usually the best students.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I agree on the non-traditional students thing–I’ve had lab partners as well as students in the class I TA’d last semester who were returning after several (or more) years’ hiatus and they are some of the best students I know! And I definitely can tell that the professors like having them around. Also you’re really cool, so…
February 29th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Go for it, Terry!!! I dropped out of college, too. When I first met you, I didn’t even have enough hours to get an associate degree. Now, I have a BA and an MA — all done non-traditionally.
I attended U of Maryland and California State U, which both have good adult programs, but you might also consider something like Excelsior College.
I did a combination of traditional classes and online classes, and I really worked well with both. You CAN do this. You will excel because of your experience and maturity. The desire to complete your education doesn’t hurt either.
I’m so happy for you! I know without a doubt that you can do this.
March 1st, 2008 at 8:20 am
Shalom Terry,
I stand in awe of you.
Hear you roar!
B’shalom,
Jeff
March 1st, 2008 at 8:23 am
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March 1st, 2008 at 11:40 am
Thank you, everyone! I got a note from the admissions counselor saying she’s gone over my transcript and was mailing me a copy of it. After I receive it, I’ll talk to her on the phone to figure out what my options are.
A, I’ll definitely be asking for your perspective on this. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been in a classroom!
March 6th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Ok - even though I didn’t vote for Obama, I’m stealing his line: YES YOU CAN YES YOU CAN YES YOU CAN.