Bite your tongue, nontraditional student! Plus a few more tips for classroom success.

Are you in a face-to-face class? Do you sit in front and ALWAYS raise your hand? Just stop. Really.

Other people want to be able to answer questions too. It can be really annoying to WANT to enter into the classroom conversation and always be waiting around for the older student to stop talking.

Try being quiet for a change. You might find it helps everyone.

Some other things to consider:

1. When asked to share about something, try to keep it short and sweet. Though it's true that your story about meeting a bear in the woods and living through it is oh-so-interesting at parties, chances are that your fellow students just want the teacher to go over the 15 more test questions before the end of class. Don't be annoying or a know-it-all (even if you think you DO know more about some things...)

2. Try making a few friends - - just ask about (maybe) starting a study group or if you can share info. just in case one of you has to miss class sometime.

3. Smile at your neighbor in class sometimes. Carry extra pencils or pens. You yourself might need to borrow one sometime.

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Other blog postings you might like:

10 Motivational Tips for Nontraditional Students

The Sandwich Generation - what is it?

and

10 Nontrad Tips - plus solutions

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Get Connected, and get more info.

The Nontrad site

Join Nontrads on Facebook 

Nontrads on Yahoo

and Nontrads on Twitter

Great inspirational quotes and sites for today...

Everyone needs an inspirational quote now and then.  

AND a site or two that is helpful too.

Here are some I like and use.

#1. ThinkExist's Inspiration Quotes
http://thinkexist.com/quotations/inspiration/

Here is a great quote from that site:
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.     
-John Quincy Adams"

#2. Brainy Quotes Quotes Page
http://www.brainyquote.com/

"Believe you can and you're halfway there.

 - Theodore Roosevelt"

#3. And here is the Motivation Page on the Nontraditional Student website. http://www.nontradstudents.com/inspire_motivate.html

It's inspiring to hear how other continuing education students have succeeded.

Are you on the road to a new degree or a new job? It takes a lot of gumption and focus to do this. So you should pat yourself on the back today.

And here are some more postings here on this blog that you may like:

Inspiring Stories from Nontraditional Students, and

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

And here are some more Nontrad links:

The Nontrad site 

Join Nontrads on Facebook

Nontrads on Yahoo

Nontrads on Twitter

Nontraditional Students... are you in school right now, having doubts, or are you afraid to go back to school?

Some of us have already heard the not-so-good stories of people who went back to school...

They had really bad things happen to them.

1. They didn't get the job they wanted.

2. They flunked out.

3. They changed their major and had to go one or more years longer.

4. They had to quit early.

5. They owed upteen thousands of dollars after going back to school,  and then had to pay it all back, and this was very, very hard.

6. They had zero support from family and/or friends.

7. They lost interest.

Are you afraid of these things happening to you? Are you already in school and are worried you will fail or quit?

Someone on the Nontraditional Student Yahoo group was sorry she went back. She has not yet found a job she wants. The only jobs she can get involve moving, which is easier for younger people than for older ones.

As for me (and you may know this already) I went back for teaching, and only taught for one (count it) ONE semester. Really. But I learned a LOT. And I can use the skills I learned now in many ways.

Others went back to school and got a great job. I think knowing a lot about what you are going back to do can help. Motivation and support can also help. Talking a lot to your school Advisors and teachers can also help. Being in a Nontraditional Student group can help. Having a plan can help.

It's not a be-all and end-all. But going back to school CAN make a major difference in your life. Whether it is graduate school or taking another subject you think you'd be good at, keeping a positive attitude and working hard can help.

Maybe these links will help you or somebody you know.

 Great stories about Nontraditional Students (from the Nontrad website)

A Nontrad Story - Michelle at Cornell

and Be Courageous - and improve your self-esteem.

And here are some other recent postings you may like:

My club picnic made me think about nontraditional students - and the clubs they can join

The beginning of Fall Semester, Air Conditioning, and more. School today, now and then.

#10 and final posting in a series: Have you signed up for too many classes?

Betsyanne

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