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

I’m still here and haven’t given up yet!

Seriously, the summer term here at NETC has gone along quite well for me and really quickly.  My Psychology class is a really great group of fun and interesting people. The ages of the students is quite varied, with the youngest being around 19 and the oldest being me!  They are from different walks of life and have different viewpoints to offer so we get into some very thought-provoking discussions.  For example, in a recent class, one of the students was the basis for our discussion on the olfactory system due to his peculiar sense of smell. 

It is a very comfortable class.  Our instructor told us she loves us and wanted to know if she could “keep” us.  It’s such a pleasure to have fun in the learning environment. It makes it easier to get up and go to class and not at all the drudgery that some classes seem like. 

We’ve recently been studying the brain, and I’m learning a lot.  I had taken a class years ago in drawing on the right side of the brain, which prepared me for learning more about the left brain right brain scenario.  I think I have some idea now of how the brain actually works.  It’s very interesting. We have a test this week, so I’ve been studying a little every day.  It’s hard getting into the study habit after a lifetime of living otherwise.

Computer 101 is coming along smoothly. After the first couple of weeks of “old news”, we finally got into using Excel on fictional projects.  I never realized there was so much to learn. I’ve always taught myself on the computer but it’s much better to have someone else doing the teaching rather than learning by trial and error. It will be helpful to be able to add Excel and Power Point to my resume.  I’ve gotten Bs on both of my tests, so far; so I guess I’m absorbing something

I just read an article about the changing face of today’s college student.  According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, about half of today’s students are financially independent; 49% are part-time; 38% work full time and 27% have their own dependents. Twelve million, almost half, attend two-year colleges rather than traditional four-year schools. Only 56% of four-year college students complete a degree in six years; and 20% of first-time students at community college get a certificate or degree within three years (USA Today online).  I am quite surprised at that 56% completion rate.  Given the fact that a college education is so important these days, and we are so fortunate to have that availability, I would think completing college would be a high priority.  I do know that at NETC there are a great many non-traditional students in all age ranges. The statistics in the USA Today article make me, as a senior citizen, feel more comfortable as a student and also more grateful. Non-traditional seems to be the norm these days.

I am so looking forward to new and challenging classes in the fall semester. Soon it will be time to choose what classes to take; and there are so many to choose from, but I know my limits. There are classes that are required that I know must be addressed to achieve an Associate of Arts degree.  I don't look forward to more math.  However, I do look forward to more Psychology and Sociology and to getting into an English class.  I will probably be taking four rather than three classes, which I took in the spring.  Now that I have experienced school for a while, I realize that I can handle four classes.  

It will also be much more enjoyable to have the masses back in school and to be meeting new people because I find the hustle-bustle of the Fall semester to be quite invigorating.Maybe you will too!  The application deadline for Fall semester is July 28 by the way. Have a great rest of your summer! 

Read Karolyn's June column