Non-Traditional Students

'Tree Hugger' Changing the World

Old Red Kimono

You know you’re a non-traditional student when you are mistaken for staff

By Michelle Huskins
Staff Writer

Alice Nixon and Jennifer Phillips take time to study The first time I was described as a non-traditional college student I thought they were referring to my choice of clothing. It was later that I discovered that “non-traditional” simply means having been out of high school for more than five years.

By that description, some of us are non-traditional squared and cubed. You know if you are a non-traditional student when a younger student mistakes you for staff, you have to help your children with their homework before you can begin your own or, better yet, your children help YOU with your homework.

You are probably a traditional student if you still resemble your senior portrait because high school is not that far behind you. More than likely all of your brain cells are still functioning at full capacity as well, which might explain how you can recall most of the algebraic formulas without looking in the front of your math book. Although age is the most obvious difference, there are other characteristics that set us apart.

A lot of the non-traditional students that I know have family and jobs that require as much time and effort as the college classes they are taking. Learning how to balance all these responsibilities can be as challenging as chemistry class; so can finding the money for tuition and books while supporting a family. Taking a heavy load of classes, working a full or part-time job and maintaining and building relationships, all while trying to keep a decent grade point average, is not easy either.

But despite all the challenges, the knowledge I am obtaining at college is immeasurable.

Michelle Huskins listens intently I now know about Pavlov and his mouth-watering dogs, I have learned more about math functions than I ever wanted to know and I have progressed from dogpaddling to actually surfing the web. To think I almost missed these opportunities because I thought I was getting too old to begin a college career.

I was relieved when I stepped on the Georgia Highlands College campus and discovered that I was not alone in my decision to become a student later in life. Our campus is filled with traditional and non-traditional students of all ages, all facing the demands of life and still reaching for the goal of a college degree.

Choosing the right major and making time to study are common challenges we all face regardless of our age or classification.

A Chinese proverb states that, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Perhaps it really does not matter when you embark on your journey through college as long as you take that first step. Some of you were wise enough to begin early. Some of us were wise enough to realize it is never too late to learn.