Taking your first baby steps
Nontraditional students CAN hold themselves back. I have held myself back too. I never even considered going back to school - - I guess I thought it would be too much work, for one thing. And I was busy raising my daughter as a single parent. I did not know about student loans, and I wondered if I could do college level work as an older student.
Now I realize that I held myself back by thinking I could not do it, by not even looking into it for many years. Looking back at the past can be dangerous, because situations change. But I do feel that if I had gone back earlier, I would have been able to do a lot more with my degree, and even may have pursued a Masters. I may still do that, but taking action on what I wanted to do EARLIER may have been even better.
So now I am helping other nontraditional students succeed. I feel really good about that. Are you a student who is not sure of yourself? Do you doubt whether or not you can succeed at school because of family obligations, responsibilities, or your own self-doubt?
I talk about this a little in my last blog posting, Fear and the Nontraditional Student. For many people, it is the first baby step that can be the hardest. What is something small that can lead to something big? Your personal baby step could just be making that appointment with an advisor. Or it could be looking up schools online. It could also be filling out your FAFSA. Or it could be just considering going back.
Are you already enrolled in school for the Fall? Are you just considering whether you can do it or not? Or maybe you are an experienced older student who has already gone to that first class or logged online for the first time, full of trepidation but also full of hope that you will succeed and learn at school.
Let me know how you are doing! And remember, you CAN do it! What are your thoughts? Post a comment right now.
-Betsyanne
Some other articles you may like:
How to make friends in college
Study secrets of a nontraditional student
How to begin as a nontraditional student
and
Nontrad students - 11 more tips for success!
And here are my links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter
I've been having doubt about whether to continue with my degree. Now I'm on mid-year break and I just realised this morning - it's taken me so long to get to where I am (night school, studying externally), that would be a waste if I was to give up now! Thanks for this post - very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear your story. Please keep me updated on what you decide. Thanks, Caz!
ReplyDeleteYou really are an inspirational force. i hope you know that. I am siging up for classes next week. I am only taking two, but at least i know I am doing soemthing!
ReplyDeleteThat is so great. And I did not know I was an inspirational force, but I like the sound of it. Thank you so much, and the best of luck with your classes. Please let me know how it is going during your summer.
ReplyDelete"Now I realize that I held myself back by thinking I could not do it, by not even looking into it for many years. Looking back at the past can be dangerous, because situations change. But I do feel that if I had gone back earlier, I would have been able to do a lot more with my degree, and even may have pursued a Masters. I may still do that, but taking action on what I wanted to do EARLIER may have been even better."
ReplyDeleteFor years I have lamented the fact that I never did well in Secondary school, and consequently never went to University. Then one day it hit me - what is stopping me from getting the skills I need, and attending University now? Oh sure, it is harder - much harder - especially now that I have a family. But as hard as it is, I believe that the reward will be worth it in the end, i.e., a job more suitable for me in the future.
i also usually hold myself down whenever i think that i could do this or that. when opportunity arrives, that's the time i would think that "yeah, i really can do this." but what if the opportunity never comes? what if i should work to get that opportunity? one thing's for sure, whenever opportunity comes i usually end up saying "it would have been better if.." we can all study at this time, online or at school. we can do this!
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