April 15, 2010
PLUS40 & OnCampus
By NETC Student Karloyn Tredeau

It’s hard to believe that Spring is here! Time has flown since I started college in January.  I’ve had to make many adjustments to my way of living due to homework and studying however; the payoff is the sense of accomplishment that I feel when I submit a good essay or make a good grade on a quiz, test or assignment.  I have also found that time has become my friend because as it has passed, I’ve become more comfortable and confident in my ability to continue with my college education.  Even Math 150 (Pre-Algebra) is making more sense to me! I guess those new neural pathways people have been telling me about are starting to open up!

I sat down the other day with Dr. Forest Mahan, Vice President of Academic Affairs, to ask him some of those questions that I hear from so many students my age (and younger!).  For example: “Why do I have to take this class when I’m never going to use it in my chosen profession?”  According to Dr. Mahan, the purpose of the classes we all think we don’t need to take is to give everyone a more balanced and diverse education.  This way, students are introduced to a wide variety of subjects that might influence them in other ways in the future.  As you know, things do change and it is possible (and very likely in today’s changing world) that this knowledge will be helpful in a different career at a different stage of our lives.  This makes sense to me and is a great answer that I hadn’t thought about previously.
 
I also asked Dr. Mahan about getting credit for “life experience” that many of us “Plus40” students have under our belts.  He explained that placement testing could allow, in certain circumstances, for students to be placed into upper level classes based on their existing experiences and expertise – which would be demonstrated by their placement test scores.  It is also possible for some credits to carry over from classes taken previously, if the student’s skills have remained current.  Again, this may require placement test scores to validate the student’s retained mastery of the course content. 

Dr. Mahan also explained that the college offers non-credit classes through the division of Continuing Education which might help us to brush up on those skills where we need improvement.  Each semester, NETC Continuing Education offers more than 200 online and oncampus classes.   Some of the many online classes offered through Continuing Education can be viewed online at www.ed2go.com/netc. 

A complete course listing is available by clicking on “Continuing Ed” or by calling 843-921-6924 and someone can help you.  I have found the staff at NETC to be extremely helpful with any questions, and Dr. Mahan was no exception.  Thanks, Dr. Mahan!

I am planning on taking a couple of classes in the summer and am looking forward to new challenges.  Compared to some older students I’ve talked to, my challenges are small.  One woman I talked to is taking six classes!  For me, right now three is just fine, although it will take longer to complete my curriculum. Maybe I’ll take four in the fall.  Either way, the college allows me the opportunity to learn at my own pace…and so can you.   Don’t forget that applications for summer term are due on April 28, 2010.

It’s also time to fill out a new FAFSA form online for grant money for the fall semester.  I am indeed fortunate to have the support of the government in pursuing my education.  To fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

On a final note, I recently had a setback in that I lost the use of a vehicle.  Fortunately, I have had a neighbor giving me a ride to school and a fellow student bringing me home.  However, if I had to, I could have taken the PDRTA bus from Piggly Wiggly in Chesterfield directly to the college in Cheraw and back at no cost because I am a NETC student.  Simply show them your college ID.  The bus also runs routes from Chesterfield to Bennettsville and back so…“Where there’s a will, there’s a way” or, a bus. 

Karolyn Tredeau, 63 of Ruby, entered college after taking a 40-year hiatus from formal education.  She is a student at Northeastern Technical College and will write about her experiences in this column, “Plus40 & OnCampus” once a month.  Karolyn can be reached at  karolynt@shtc.net.

Read Karolyn's March column.