Answers to the "Why Go Back" Poll

Welcome, readers, to the Nontraditional Student blog. I just copied this result page (below) from the Bravenet Poll site.

I've had 13 people answer the "Why Go Back" poll. I must say I am surprised so far. Here are the answers:

 

The winners so far are I want to achieve my dreams and I have many different reasons for going back to school. I guess I thought more people would say they were going back for money or to completely change their lives. Oh well! I will run this poll again later on, maybe with more answers. And why are you going back to school - or are you thinking about it? Did you already go? You can also take the poll.

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter

Nontraditional students: It's time for Summer School and Summer Classes

Nontraditional students and others are taking some classes this summer during Summer Sessions.

Is this you?

WKU (where I was a nontraditional student) did offer summer classes when I was first in school, and still does. They also offer a new Winter Session and a May Session too.

Because there is not as much time to complete class assignments, summer classes are sometimes very much harder than comparable Fall or Spring classes. But they can also be fun. Most important, they can also be very welcome in fulfilling requirements and may be the only choice for some nontrads.

The poll I posted in May here on the Nontrad Blog shows that 33% of the nontraditional student who responded are going to summer school. Many also have part-time jobs.

The Students over 30 blog site has many more disadvantages listed in their list of Pros and cons of Taking College Summer Courses. I must say I do agree with the point that vacations are more fun than school in the summer, but face it: sometimes you just have to bit that bullet.

Are you going to summer school? How is it going? Were you able to have any time off between Spring Semester and Summer School?

Let me and my readers know by posting a comment. Thanks!

Some More Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

Tips for Inspiration - or how to get moving towards the important things

OK - you know who you are. Or maybe not...

You (and I!) can be the people who think about special projects, going back to school, doing artwork, writing a book or short story, joining a club... etc. etc. etc. But often, we wind up doing something else instead, and putting what is really important on the proverbial back burner.

Some readers will not recognize themselves in this posting. But I'll bet some will. I admire those people who are organized and concentrate on those things that matter.

I have to admit... I need help with organization and following through. I procrastinate. I put important things off. I choose to just let things stay the same. I come up with excuses NOT to do things that I want to do. I suddenly become very busy with little things that don't matter... in order not to have to think about what is really important or start on that important task.

So what is stopping me - - or maybe you? Some say fear. Some say bad experiences in the past. Still others say that low self-esteem can play a factor in NOT doing something that really is quite important.

Thinking about choices in the past can be a non-too-fun endeavor too that gets me sidetracked. I can get stuck in the past, going over and over things that can't be changed. It can seem hard to focus just on today and what I want to really get done with my time.

But I really DO want to get motivated and get things done. I keep coming back to that, and trying even harder.

What helps me? Here are some tips I hope will inspire you to get started doing the important things, like going back to school or getting that important project done.


1. Make a list - getting a great list done helps me prioritize and actually get some important things done. I must post this list on the wall and NOT get it mixed up in other papers for it to start working though. What also helps is making time to actually make the list. And looking at the list helps too.

2. Pay attention. I must take a rest break or meditate in order to zero in on the important things so I can put them high on my #1 list. Sometimes meditating can help me be more relaxed and able to focus on important things. Writing "meditation daily" on my list is also helpful.

3. Read or listen to what experts say. I have found some great books and tapes that have helped me. Some are available at library sales or yard sales. Others I find on Amazon. But of course you can buy them new if your budget permits. Some authors I recommend are: Dr. Wayne Dyer, Ayanla Vanzant, The Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Sark, and Julia Cameron. There are more that I plan to talk about later too.

4. Keeping the little things up to date. This helps me free up time for what is MORE important. If you are trying to organize the house, for instance, do a little of that every day.

What helps you get or stay motivated to do the really important things? I know for nontraditional students those things might be studying, deciding where to go to school, working on projects, or studying online. It could also be starting that book, article, or artwork piece.

List what you use to motivate yourself and get important things done. I would love to hear what helps you.

Nontraditionally Yours,

Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on YahooNontrads on Twitter
These links and this advice is for people going back to school after a break, nontraditional students... who are becoming a big part of post-high school students across the country.



The person thinking about an empty box is from the free Clker art site.

Final project excitement... Get Excited! How this can help.

Artists, scientists, teachers, and everyone else who has a final project: 

Are You Excited???

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She is SO excited! Are YOU excited like this?

I read a comment today on a former posting about final projects of nontraditional students. This inspired my posting. My fellow nontraditional student first told about her assignments, and how time was running out.

But then she also said in her next comment how excited she was about the projects.

I think that this is going to make a huge difference in finishing the projects. I know when I am excited the time flies by and I am intrigued, not bored, but projects. I lose myself in the process. This can happen when I write, and when I am creating.
Being excited can turn just a job into something REALLY fun, and a cut above. It might even lead to a prize, an award, or a GREAT grade.

People can tell if you are excited. It weaves itself into what you are doing, and can infuse it with true genius.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
So... I am adding this to my suggestions.

Nontraditional Students, Get Excited!!!

If you are still in the selection process when it comes to final papers, projects, dissertations, fiction or non-fiction writing, or another project, select something that makes you excited. I have a distinct feeling that this will make all the difference in getting it done, making it great, and being proud of what you create.

So... Are you excited? I hope so!

Share what you think by commenting below.

Later!
Nontraditionally Yours,
Betsyanne

 Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter 

This wonderful excited photo is from the Microsoft Clipart Pages.

What successful nontraditional students need to have

Here are some things I believe Nontraditional Students should have to succeed. These things are also good for traditional students to have.

Personal qualities successful nontraditional students have:

Stick-to-it-iveness - this essential quality of not giving up in the middle of a project (or class!) is absolutely a must for nontraditional students. It prevents late assignments and possible grade heartache.

Outgoingness - nontraditional students must sometimes go ahead and introduce themselves, getting needed phone numbers and email contact information so they won't miss information if they get sick and can't come to class. If a nontrad is shy, he or she needs to "act as if" and go ahead and get this important job done.

Patience - it takes awhile to get to know the ropes. And if a nontraditional student is taking a few years of training, it takes patience to go through each prerequisite course. It can also take a lot of patience to listen to boring teachers or speakers at times. Not saying all professors or teachers are this way, but I have had a few. Luckily, not many.

Physical fitness - I know, not all nontraditional students are fit. But sometimes if you are going to a campus with hills and valleys, and have to hoof it back and forth to distant buildings, you do need to be in shape if possible. If a nontraditional student has a disability, hopefully the school will help with transportation or has a good wheelchair access to buildings and walkways. At my school (Western Kentucky University) they built in wheelchair access in many areas.

Organization - it is imperative to be organized. The more classes I had, the more organized I had to be. Otherwise, I would have lost notes and not known important test dates, and even missed classes. My notebook and calendar were musts, and I had to write everything in it.

Helpful nontraditional support that some nontraditional students have

Family Support - this is not a must (nontraditional students have succeeded without it) but it sure helps.

Group and Friend Support - this can really help too. Having a nontraditional student group at school is so helpful for many. Finding a good online group can be such a plus too. Some students have told me that they prefer to "go it alone," but I found having people to talk to that understood where I was coming from decreased my stress level and made being back in school so much more rewarding.

Teacher Support - this doesn't always happen, but many more teachers do help their nontraditional students who are in their class. Sometimes it takes an appointment and a personal visit, but a supportive teacher who will tell you what to study and why can make your class so much better.

School Support - some schools have it, some don't. It can make such a difference, for example, if a school offers day care or helps nontraditional students with families find it. And a special study area for nontraditional students is becoming much more popular and is needed.

Any more ideas? Please list them, so I can make an even better list next time.

Nontraditionally Yours,
Betsyanne
former nontraditional student

Get connected: Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter

Saving Money for Nontraditional Students

Tweet about this posting:

How to save money while you are going back to school...
Truthfully, I didn't think I would find much on this subject online, but voila! I am finding a lot.
If you are in school, you probably already know a lot about saving money, just because experience is such a good teacher. But there may be some hints in the articles here that can help even more. Here are three terrific articles about saving money at school.
#1. 118 Ways to Save Money at College
This article gives beaucoup ways to save money, including on your bank, your credit cards, alcohol, food, computers, entertainment and more.
#2. Saving Money from the Campus Grotto site. This list includes taking courses at community college, then transferring your credits to a 4-year one. Note: make sure they WILL transfer first. Here is that link: Saving Money: 50 Tips for College Students.
#3. Article Cat has a good article about saving money while going back for your GED. If you are taking online classes, you can always save on gas, of course, and can sometimes get more than one thing done at home. The part about being able to babysit your kids while you are studying does not always work though. It helps if they are asleep! :-) Here is that article: Get Your GED.
More ideas:
Some money-saving ideas I have used in the past include riding the school bus, buying course books used or online, walking places, taking snacks or lunch to school, shopping at thrift stores, re-using scrap paper for notes and for printouts on my computer,  cooking casseroles and soups at home, and cutting back on movies and eating out.
What are your money-saving ideas? List them in the comments section. Thanks ahead of time!
-Betsyanne
The piggy bank art is from the great, free site Clkr.com at http://www.clkr.com. 
Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter

Fear and the Nontraditional Student

You break out in a sweat. Your heart starts beating really fast. You feel like you want to run away. Run! Run!

I’ve been there. Have you? You really want to do something, maybe go back to school, and you are afraid.

You are afraid you won’t do a good job. You are afraid you WILL do a good job. You are afraid of the unknown. You are afraid of staying where you are. You are afraid of change. You are afraid you won’t fit in. You are afraid you are making a big mistake.

And these are just a FEW of the things you are afraid of!

You also ask yourself, “What if something goes wrong?” or “What if I make a mistake? Or “What if I can’t do the work?”

On the negative side, fear just feels bad. It can be easier just to make the feeling stop by holding on to the same old life and the same old decisions.

On the positive side, it can be good to be afraid. It makes you think about the fear and what you are afraid of. Then you can move past it, and move ahead.

I believe that it is normal to ask questions and to be afraid of new things.

One reason fear arises is that the unknown is scary. The known feels safe.

Many people would rather stick with the status quo and just keep life as it is, even if their life or their job isn’t exactly what they want. It’s just easier not to rock the boat. At least they KNOW the life they have right now. Going back to school brings along with it an unknown future. And that is just plain scary.

The unknown future may bring a new job too. People ask, “What will that first job be? Will I even like it?” At least they KNOW the job they have now… even if it doesn’t make them happy.

Do you fit in this category? Do you want to go back to school, but are afraid of the changes this would bring?

Randi Bussen, in her article, Career Change/Reinvention Can Be Scary, also believes that fear can be a normal thing. She has some steps that “help you move to the next stage in your career and life.” (And get past your fear). She suggests that fear is a “normal part of the reinvention process.” She believes that you need to look at your fear and ask yourself, what is the worst thing that could happen?

Often, what is imagined as the worst possible thing that could happen actually isn’t all that bad. Or it is something you will be able to deal with and move beyond.

And what about failure?

Failure isn’t just not being able to achieve what you wanted to achieve. It can be a stepping stone to new knowledge about yourself, Randi says.

I agree with this. I believe that it’s better to go ahead and try, than to always regret not trying.

Will you journey through your fear to go back to school? Do you know someone else who is doing this?

My advice? Don’t let fear hold you back from discovering what you can do, and learning more about yourself. It can be a wonderful journey. And you will be able to say, “I did it!”

Some good quotes

Here are some good quotes to help overcome fear:

It's never too late to be what you might have been. - George Elliot

Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain. - R.W. Emerson

I have accepted fear as a part of life... specifically the fear of change… I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back. - Erica Jong

Nontraditionally Yours,
Elizabeth (Betsy) Sheppard

Oh - and how do YOU deal with fear? Comment below and let me know.

Sources

Overcome Fear and Improve your Self-Esteem
http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/2008/12/be-courageous-and-improve-your-self.html

Overcoming Fear of Change (from Jobhunt.org)
http://www.job-hunt.org/career-change/career-change-fears.shtml

Quotes:
http://www.inspirational-quotations.com/famous-quotes.html
http://www.bestquotationsever.com/f/fear.html


Some other Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter

Celebrate! It's the end of Spring Semester! 10 Summer Ideas for Nontrads

Image via Wikipedia

What other Nontraditional Students are doing...

I know you may still be winding up your semester, getting ready to graduate, or enrolling in summer school. But many nontraditional students are considering what to do after this, the end of the semester.

If you aren't already finished, you soon will be. It will be the end of final projects, the end of finals, and the end of crash studying. At last!

But now what?

Some of you will easily transition to "just the job..." or easily relax after school is done for the semester. But others will probably want to have some ideas. Here are some I thought of today:

1. Pamper Yourself. Do some things you have been putting off, like getting that new hairstyle or spa treatment.

2. Read and Relax. Get that favorite book out and have a fun time NOT having to do homework for a change.

3. Go on vacation, even if it's just nearby. If you can swing it, try staying at a relative's house or even a hotel for awhile. Yeah.

4. Have a picnic at home or at a park. This is very relaxing.

5. Take some time to garden, organize your house, the garage, etc. Completely forget about having to re-register for school. Or take care of that early and then do a project.

6. Do a craft project you have been putting off. For example, get out those easily-fixable bracelets and necklaces that just need a jump hook. Attach them and voila! New jewelry.

7. Get together with a neighbor, friend, or favorite family member and have an old-fashioned tea and cookies gab session.

8. Journal. Start a Summer Journal and put your thoughts, ideas, wishes, drawings, and more in it. If you need some inspiration on how to journal, check out the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. She has great ideas here, especially if you are artistic in any way.

9. Go to see a movie. Get popcorn and drinks too. If you are adventurous, and have one nearby, go see an outdoor drive-in movie and sample the snacks there too.

10. Spend $10.00 at a Dollar Store, buying little knick-knacks for Christmas presents for friends and family (or maybe the mailperson?). OR go yardsaling or thrift store shopping. This is a great picker-upper for many people.

Got another end-of-school pick-me-up to add? Just add it in the comments.

Find out what other students are saying about the end of the semester:
Dead Day Party and Initiation
from Rantings of a Middle-Aged College Student

Older Non-Trad Student
Stop and Smell the Roses

College Campus Mama
So Surprised - (getting ready for summer classes)

Later!

-Betsyanne

Some of my links!
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and referral

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