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
Welcome to the Nontraditional Student blog. Helping commuter students, graduate students, nontraditional students, continuing education students, and more.
Do you think you can't do it? Listen to Nick Vujicic tell about himself
This video is called "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries," and Look at Yourself After Watching This.
Just double-click this video to watch it bigger on YouTube if you want.
I saw this today and went "Wow!" - - - I cried too. Nick certainly has had to come to terms with what he does not have, and has ended up being grateful for what he does have. This video sure puts some things into perspective, doesn't it? What do you think of this video? Does it make you want to try your hardest, to do things you didn't think were possible? Let me know by commenting on it below.
-Betsyanne
Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter
Just double-click this video to watch it bigger on YouTube if you want.
I saw this today and went "Wow!" - - - I cried too. Nick certainly has had to come to terms with what he does not have, and has ended up being grateful for what he does have. This video sure puts some things into perspective, doesn't it? What do you think of this video? Does it make you want to try your hardest, to do things you didn't think were possible? Let me know by commenting on it below.
-Betsyanne
Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter
I will be adding to the Nontrad Student website
Image via Wikipedia
Hi all!
I am adding to the Nontrad Website this week. I have started with Kentucky, because I live there. Here is the link to that page (the Kentucky page) http://www.nontradstudents.com/kentucky.html.
I think putting scholarship links, advice links, and more from each state will really improve all of the State Pages on the site. This will help nontraditional students find more information that will help them go back to school after a break.
If you have some great state links that you would like to see on the state pages, just let me know.
Later!
-Betsyanne
Some Nontrad links:
The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook
Nontrads on Yahoo
Nontrads on Twitter
Nontraditional Students - labels and preconceptions - and how do nontrads feel?
Image by betsyanne via FlickrSometimes the line is blurred. But I think most students who don't fit the traditional mold can feel somehow like an outsider at school - like somebody who doesn't quite fit in. In fact, I have had some people say that even though they MIGHT be able to do an online class, going back to school with younger students just terrifies them! Some younger students make a point of including them in conversations. Others would rather they just didn't exist - - which is really a moot point, because they do exist, and in higher numbers than ever.
I have written an article that hopefully will be published on another blog soon. I will list the link here as soon as I can. It has to do with Fear and the Nontraditional Student. I do think that there are some fears that nontraditional students have that can hold them back. I think nowadays, though, that older, "nontrad" students are learning to overcome their fears and to welcome the chance to interact with younger, more traditional students.
Other nontraditional students are shouldering heavy family responsibilities and money woes. I don't think we can clump everyone in the same basket always, but I do think that many nontraditional students have a lot in common, such as:
1. Less time to study
2. A lack of encouragement from family or friends
3. Family responsibilities that can take time away from schoolwork
4. A feeling of being "less than" or not being as prepared as younger students
5. A greater focus on where they are going, and a more serious outlook about school.
6. More stories and life experiences they love to share with others
I think it's good for different groups to interact, whether it is in an online or face-to-face class. It is my hope that the diversity of the modern classroom will have a positive effect - - helping younger students to appreciate how seriousness has its place, and for older students to realize that fun and a sense of play have their place in education too, and can make the whole experience even better.
All for now!
Nontraditionally Yours,
-Betsyanne
Some of my links!
The Nontrad site and blog
Join Nontrads on Facebook (be member #166)
New Information and Links from the Nontrad Twibe
Image via WikipediaAre you on Twitter? You can join the Nontrad Twibe there. This is a nontraditional student interest group. From there you can find Twitter postings of interest to nontraditional students of all ages.
Here are some recent postings from the Nontrad Twibe:
The Nontrad site and blog
The Betsyanne page and blog
My Squidoo Pages and referral
Celebrate! It's the end of Spring Semester! 10 Summer Ideas for Nontrads
Image via WikipediaWhat 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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