As a member of the league of older, nontraditional students who are also working full time, the challenges are not centered on the schoolwork. No, the schoolwork is much more exciting than it ever was when I was a traditional student. The challenges are more a factor of the hidden costs – the opportunity costs. The price we pay for education is measured in much more than dollars and cents.
We pay in non-tangible ways with our time, our status, and our loss of freedom.
My peers are approaching retirement if they are not already retired. They are enjoying their grandchildren, their tennis, their overseas vacations. They have time. So much time.
Time is a commodity that eludes the nontraditional student. When I come home from work, I spend time with my father, fix him his favorite cocktail, then head to my home-office to read, study and write. I envy my friends and their extra time, but I also feel like my best days are ahead of me, full of promise, while theirs might just be behind them.
We older students put our esteem on the line when we try to go toe-to-toe with our younger classmates. Sweet platitudes like, “I admire you! I hope to still have that kind of drive when I’m your age!” play through my head way longer than I wish they would. When I ask for a pen because mine ran out of ink and no one has one because no one uses actual pens and paper anymore, the look of confusion and then compassion on their faces belies the fact that I am distinct from them in more than just age, but in technology, culture, The Times.
Being seen as a mentor among the younger crowd takes a back seat to being seen as a fellow, struggling student, just doing my best to turn in assignments on time. What I know that my classmates don’t is the real-life application of the lessons they are learning. Man, that is invaluable.
Another challenge is the loss of freedom to do what we want, when we want. Classmates grab a beer after class; friends plan an evening out together; family members want to take a weekend trip, but none of that is possible with a full-time job, classes, and responsibilities at home. Homework, exams, papers, and projects mean the fun is on hold. It certainly feels like others are living a far more carefree life while we are trudging through peer-reviewed articles and creating Prezis.
What I count on is that the loss of fun in the here-and-now is an investment in my future. More will be gained in the long run.
The fun is waiting for me!