April 14, 2011
Plus 40 & OnCampus

It is near the end of spring semester now, and I am looking forward to having some time off from school for the summer. April is National Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I am rather busy with work, so it has been a little more difficult to balance work, school and home. I really admire those who are taking more than three classes and working, especially those who are single parents. It is essential in undertaking the task of being in school to know one’s limitations.

Classes have been going very well. I have mentioned before the difficulty in having discussions with a group when participants are online at different times, and there are different discussions posted by several people referring to the same topic. Even with this difficulty, my group has managed to come together at the 11th hour and submit group projects and receive 100 percent every time. The class has been a real thought-provoker regarding the many aspects of religion in general.  I have found it very helpful in my life to have an open mind, trying to understand others’ viewpoints. Religion 101 encourages objectivity rather than judgment in the observation of religion.

I have found my age to benefit me in Sociology 102, Marriage and the Family, since I have experienced much of what I am studying. That experience is also beneficial to the class at large. During my first semester, one of my instructors had mentioned the value of older students to young students, and I have seen that in action.

Although it is a long class at two hours and 45 minutes, Technology & Society has been enjoyable. I mentioned in March that it was a bit difficult doing my genealogy project because of my Polish ancestry. Since then, I have unearthed a little more information about my other grandfather. Each piece of information excites me because I find connection to the past to be important. I am grateful that my mother told me as much as she did while she still could. One piece of advice I would give to those with parents still living is ask as many questions as you can about your parents’ lives and your ancestry. Other than that project, the class has been simple and informative and focused a lot on the history of technology. 

In looking back to my first semester in January 2010, I can see that I have learned a great deal, not only through my lessons in school, but also through my interaction with other students. I never realized that so many older people were going back to school and taking so many different paths.  Times have changed so much, and it is becoming more important to gain as much knowledge as possible to be able to compete in today’s society.  People these days are working longer and not retiring to a life of leisure as they did in the past. Had I been asked 10 years ago if I would want to go back to school, the response would have been a resounding “No!” However, this is a new time, and people have to adapt to continue to swim rather than sink.

Karolyn Tredeau, 64 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.