National Academic Advising Association member seeking academic advice.

I have a question for my fellow mid-lifers. I can relate to the challenge of working full-time and squeezing college into my free time since that's how I completed both of my degrees. Still, as much as I enjoy learning, it is a blessed relief to not feel the pressure of homework due date. Goodness knows there are enough pressures in life without adding to them. It is comforting to know that after a hard day, I can go home and turn off my brain.

Lately though, I've been thinking that my brain is beginning to soften and that it might benefit from some exercise - at least more exercise than I've been giving it recently. Yes, it is comforting to relax in the evenings and to shut down my brain so that all it has to worry about is pumping oxygenated blood but does my mentally sedentary lifestyle come at a price?

I've found myself Googling online degree programs in search of one that might get me off the couch (figuratively.) So my question to Betty and Veronica is why should I do this? You've recently made a similar choice but what was it that got you to act and wind up doing homework with all of your free time?

Of course, there are practical reasons to go back to school and you might be doing all of this to make yourself more marketable or to position yourself for a new job or promotion, but I suspect that there was more to your decision than plain-old, vanilla practicality. Was there something within that pushed you forward? Something that might inspire other potential mid-life coeds like me?

Week 5

So, I find myself not nearly as stressed as I was last August when I was first learning Blackboard, taking two 4 credit hour classes, working full time (plus), and re-introducing myself to college and advisors and all it had to offer. I look back now and feel so relieved and so proud of myself.
I probably shouldn't have stated on 'paper' that I wasn't as stressed; I'm sure that will come back to bite me in about a month! My second class does not begin until mid-semester so that is certainly something new and exciting, I'm sure.

Midlife Prof

I am not a coed, and at 41 I am perhaps a little past midlife. Actually, given the way I eat, I am well past that point.

My name is Bill and I am a professor of Liberal Studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield and our program has a rich history of working with students of all ages. At this point, I do not know how much I will post, but I am hanging around the e-sphere and perhaps I can answer a question or two.

Friends

But I am a Grandmother of two and Mother of three, and have decided to join my friend Betty at college, we had other things get in the way after we graduated Riverdale High.
Neither one got Archie, but we are still friends.

Grandma goes to college

Hello and welcome to the midlife coed blog! Please know that I am rather new at all this blogging stuff.
You have now been warned.
Ok, so I'm not really a grandma yet but I am the mom of two college students. Gee, I look so forward to three student loans.
This blog idea was created for a class project but we're hoping that it will turn into something helpful and informative for all of the mid-lifers returning to school.
We want this to be a sounding board and resource for older students, although younger students are certainly welcome and encouraged to participate as well.

Midlife Coed

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