Can you be a nontraditional student and not be at a regular school?

I think the answer is yes to this.

Since I started (re-) learning pottery and painting, (and soon: weaving...) part of me does feel like I am back in school. I have been doing research, reading books, and now plan to learn more with a private teacher at the Pots Place.

I will be taking a class from Bob Brigl, who is a Pots Place master potter.

I think just knowing I have a class and going at least once a week will help me make more progress. It's always too easy to say, "I have _________ (insert excuse here) to do instead..." and that is a cop-out, really. It prevents progress on art and anything I want to learn.

But it is so easy to say. Things just can get in the way if I let them. So... my solution is that I am going to MAKE time for art this year, not just talk about it. My plans are going into action.

I have a great book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron that I also will be looking at again this year. This is a great book to help artists get back on track with their art.

For many years, I was a graphic artist, working with different printing companies. True, I got to make logos and printed pieces, which can be very creative. But there is something about fine art that I have always thought was more lasting.

Back to my projects this year, which include weaving, painting, and pottery. The motto is Just Do It or Make Yourself Do It.

Like many other nontraditional students, I am taking a class in order to become more skillful, but also to have a good time.

Memphis Marsha (Marsha Heidbrink) here in Bowling Green, Kentucky had a studio where lots of artists and students could learn art from many different teachers. What a great idea. I do miss Marsha. I wish I had known her even better. I think her gallery is still open, and I plan to visit there soon to find out for sure.

If you are currently in a class, are you having a good time with your classes? Or are you studying so you can have a good time later? Or maybe you are just now considering going back to school or taking a class.

Just wondering. Leave a comment!

More links:
The Pots Place Studio and Gallery
Memphis Marsha's Art Studio
Artworks in Bowling Green, Kentucky - a Visual Arts Coalition (I am a member here too).

More later!

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

Have you had a really bad cold or flu while in school?

I have what I like to call the Creeping Crud this week, complete with cough and general malaise. I don't know if a flu shot would have helped.

But it makes me think. If I were in school right now (or working) this could really throw me for a loop.

I might be lucky enough to have a job with sick days, though not all jobs have these. And yes, I have worked while sick before, though it's not a choice I like at all.

To help students who are sick or maybe have sick kids, communication is of the essence. Go to the doctor if you need to, and get an excuse slip from him or her. This can help a lot.

Arrange for notes from the class or a recording of the lecture. Make sure you have phone numbers and/or emails from at least 3 students in each of your classes, so you can call or email them for notes. Call your teacher and explain that you want to keep up on work.

Even a really bad cold or flu then can be worked around. AND if you are sick more than a week, you may want to extend your tests or class as an Incomplete, then finish your projects and still get a good grade.

And take care of yourself - - and get well soon.

<crossing fingers!>

Good luck. I wish all nontraditional students good health and quick recovery from sickness.

Here is another article here on the same subject:
Ack - what to do when you are sick - AND a nontraditional student.

Take care, nontrads!

Nontraditionally yours,
E. Sheppard
Betsyanne
Former Nontraditional Student

Spring Breaks - Travel, Staycation, or Study?

It's just about Spring Break for Western Kentucky University students. Some of them will be going on vacation with friends... maybe to Florida.

Some students will think about going to Mexico, and then not go.

What will YOU do this Spring Break? Will you rest, or work on a school project? Let my readers know.

I know when I was back at school, I usually worked hard to stay caught up, and get a move on my school papers, future tests, and portfolios. Ack. But I did get to sleep in once in awhile! That part was good.

So.. .Travel, Staycation, or Study? A curious ex-nontrad wants to know.

Nontraditionally Yours,
Betsyanne

 

Your Daily Calendar Scheduler(s)

I am not back in school right now, but I am using my calendar today plus a daily plan.

When I was back in school, I used a daily pocket calendar that fit in my purse. I had so much to remember each day, and this helped a lot. I liked the kind of scheduler that was compact, but still had many lines on each page for different things. I would fill those lines in with entries like:

Edu class
Paper due for ______ class today
Study group meeting time
Do part of report
Research _____ for class

It helped me split up my papers, remember appointments, and more. I used a regular calendar that did not cost much that I got at Walmart. I have seen some really nice calendars for sale at our local Staples with leather look covers I liked too.

Other Calendars
I like to have a big eraseable calendar on my front door. I have to change it every month, but it's kind of fun to do that.

Online, I like to have a reminder Yahoo calendar. There are some online too you can use. Many have automatic features such as Auto Reminders to help you remember friends' and family birthdays and other important days and appointments.

My husband uses a pocket calendar and writes down dates in the future to remember. My mother used to get me a 3-year calendar and we would plan things WAY ahead in them. You can still buy these.

Do you have a special system for your must-remember days?

Post your system or hint as a comment.

I have some other postings about using a calendar and more. Here they are:
5 Calendar Tips for Nontraditional Students 
10 Study Tips for Nontraditional Students
What Successful Nontraditional Students Need to Have

And a faculty member in Arkansas, Linda Pogue, shares some of her tips in this article: Scheduling is Everything for Nontraditional Students.

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

Education is for everyone - the Go Further Federal Student Aid website

Yes, today, education IS for everyone, more than ever.

Central Texas College by Parker Michael Knight on Flickr.

There are nontraditional students of every age taking classes today. What began as merely extra classes taken at night has exploded into online, daytime, AND nighttime classes. The Go Further Site (Federal Student Aid) has a page to help nontraditional students navigate the steps of going back to school.

They start with helping students assess themselves and their strengths, goals, and interests with tests and information on getting a GED if the student hasn't already done that.

They go on to include information on college education, how to get money for school, how much college costs, how to repay loans, and more.

Here is that site:
Student Aid on the Web

The best part is, this page is totally FREE.

Good luck, fellow nontraditional students!

Betsyanne

Former Nontraditional college student at Western Kentucky University
Kentucky, USA Some more Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter

Debt and the Nontraditional Student: a discussion.

Okay. A lot of nontraditional students have debt.

Many have student loans, and some have debt from before going back to school too.

Many of us have used credit cards too much... or decided to get something (like a computer) that was needed today instead of tomorrow. As far as student loans go, some people think that they should be forgiven - - and that school fees are way too high. And there is no guarantee that a student will actually get a job after graduation anymore. So how is a student supposed to pay student loans when they don't have a job?

First off, there can be no other choice for nontraditional students but to borrow to go back to school. So hopefully students will get a degree or certification in a "good" area, one that makes it possible to be hired.

And there is another complication for some students who have too much debt and want to declare bankruptcy and start over. Courts may not let them get out of paying their student loans.

As many of my readers know, there was a law passed recently that made it much harder to declare bankruptcy and eliminate your student loan debt.

So what can students do? Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep loans public - use government loans and try not to use private loans, which can charge a much greater interest rate.
2. Take as many courses as you can and stretch your semester dollars,
3. Consider tech or trade school (with transferrable credits) because the cost is lower, and
4.  Do your research and make sure what you are training for is actually in high demand.
5. Consider a 2-year degree, pay off debt, then get another degree, if needed. This allows you to only pay for 2 years instead of 4 or more.

Have another good suggestions? List it below as a comment.

Here are some interesting articles about student debt and student loan debt:
Student loan forgiveness ideas leave Americans split
Actual student loan forgiveness exists (for teachers, more)
Law Grads go to Court for Bankruptcy Protection

Betsyanne

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