I always knew I would return to school one day. I went through some personal challenges three months prior to starting school, but nothing was going to stop me, not even Hurricane Ivan. I attended Orientation even while recovering from bronchitis.
Orientation left me a little stunned and overwhelmed. I realized that even after working on/with computers for 20+ years, what I knew about them would fit into a thimble. When I was in high school, there were no computers; and this wasn’t when the dinosaurs roamed! That was in 1979 when we had no idea how important these machines would become. The young people in my class have been around computers all their lives, at home and school. They're taken for granted. Calculators weren’t permitted in school 25 years ago; now it is mandatory. Imagine how embarrassing it is, telling your teacher that you don’t know how to use a calculator when you’re majoring in IT.
More surprises were in store when the first day of class left me stunned with the realization that I was in school with students my daughter’s age, and my age surpassed that of most of my professors. With computers, calculators, family obligations, work obligations, new school schedules swirling in my head, I realized that my life would never be the same. I also realized that my experience would be much different than that of typical PTI students. This article seeks to give an alternative perspective of the life and times of a PTI nontraditional student.
To help me on my mission, I have united forces with four other nontraditional students: Bill Frech, Manisha Ghate, James Washburn, and Erica Newman. I presented them with a few questions about their experience so far at PTI. The following are their answers.
1. How is your life different than that of a typical freshman student in college?
Erica Newman: Usually after I’m showered and dressed my daughter wakes up. I feed her breakfast, dress her, and I am usually off to school by then. I come to school from 7:20 am to 12:20 pm then I work in the office from 12:20 pm to 4:30 pm. From there I go to my other job from 5 pm till 10 pm. I usually get home around 10:30 pm. So I probably see my daughter from 10:30 pm to 11pm at night, and when she goes to bed, I start my homework. The next day I get up and do it all over again.
Bill Frech: Obviously, there is more responsibility. I have a family, a house to take care of, work, and school to balance. In some ways though, I think it might be easier for me than a 19 year old. I remember back to my first go-around in college and how undisciplined I was. I think most 19 year olds are. The discipline that comes with age helps when there is stuff on your plate that has to get done, but might not be your first choice of things to do.
2. What are daily challenges you face to be successful at school?
Manisha Ghate: For me, the daily challenges were few. One challenge in the beginning was relating to my classmates for two reasons. First, the age difference and the interests were different. And second I was the only girl and I really knew nothing about computers. It took me a lot of extra time to read and understand what exactly was going on, but by the end of the 11 weeks, I felt 110% more confident in the knowledge I had gained.
James Washburn: There are bills to pay, my daughter's school activities to attend and homework to help her with. Then there are issues like keeping the house kept up. I do the cooking and kitchen cleaning every night, keeping the animals (in my case 5 cats, 1 dog, 1 rabbit and 2 rats, plus fish) fed and healthy, and the fact that I need a little down time as well (having a beer at the pub, yet still taking my books along to get work done).
3. Who is your support through this experience?
Bill Frech: My incredible wife and daughter.
Erica Newman: My two year old is support enough. Everyday I look at her and that gives me the motivation I need to be all that I can be to help her. I want her to have someone to look up to when she gets older. Why shouldn’t that be me?
Lisa French: My outside support from school begins with me. No matter how things are going, I made a commitment and will see it through. I started school and will finish with the intention of returning to work, leaving Disability behind me. Aside from me, my boyfriend, the most patient man in the world, supports this 100%.
Evident is the fact that nontraditional students have full and often complicated lives balancing children, husbands and wives, mortgage payments, car insurance, full-time jobs, and, on occasion, the daily upkeep of their pet rats. Yet, we wouldn’t change a thing. The experience we bring to the table each and every day in the classroom helps to solidify the idea that education is a choice, but it is our choice, and we stand dedicated to making it successful. We may not all know the latest Eminem track, but tell me, how many freshman can complete their homework with a daughter on their lap, a dog at their feet, and five cats on their papers?
written by Lisa French
Issue 2 February 2006
