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Comments on: Can I Convince My Friend to go Back to College? http://www.studentsover30.com/columns/student-stories/can-i-convince-my-friend-to-go-back-to-college/ The Ultimate Resource Guide for Nontraditional Students Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:35:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: University Bookstore http://www.studentsover30.com/columns/student-stories/can-i-convince-my-friend-to-go-back-to-college/#comment-8 University Bookstore Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:20:13 +0000 http://www.studentsover30.com/?p=96#comment-8 I certainly can understand the pains of being a student. While I obtained my B.A. from the age of 18 - 22, I met a special woman and was married at 23. Later that year, our first daughter was born, and the unspoken understanding of postponing graduate school in order to be a provider was also born. 6 years later, I applied to graduate school and was accepted. In addition to working long hours (40+ per week), I'm taking 3 classes per semester. Graduate school isn't easy, nor is it meant to be. I'm 31 years old right now, and I won't obtain my M.A. degree until I'm 33 -- that's 4 years of graduate school at 9 hours per semester for my current situation. An education is something that no one can ever take away from you; while that little piece of paper signifies hard and long academic work to future employers, it also means personal accomplishment. Frankly, I know that I'm a smart person who has a lot of potential. And without that little piece of paper, it's very difficult to prove to an employer that I'm the smart person that I know I am. In other words, pieces of paper are designed to communicate both to employers and to future clients that I possess expertise in my field. I'm glad that your friend is going back to school. I see 30 somethings, 40 somethings, 50 somethings and even 60 somethings in my classes. She's NOT alone. In essence, education is a life long process. Every once and a while, we get a little piece of paper for our efforts. :) I certainly can understand the pains of being a student. While I obtained my B.A. from the age of 18 – 22, I met a special woman and was married at 23. Later that year, our first daughter was born, and the unspoken understanding of postponing graduate school in order to be a provider was also born. 6 years later, I applied to graduate school and was accepted. In addition to working long hours (40+ per week), I’m taking 3 classes per semester. Graduate school isn’t easy, nor is it meant to be. I’m 31 years old right now, and I won’t obtain my M.A. degree until I’m 33 — that’s 4 years of graduate school at 9 hours per semester for my current situation.

An education is something that no one can ever take away from you; while that little piece of paper signifies hard and long academic work to future employers, it also means personal accomplishment. Frankly, I know that I’m a smart person who has a lot of potential. And without that little piece of paper, it’s very difficult to prove to an employer that I’m the smart person that I know I am. In other words, pieces of paper are designed to communicate both to employers and to future clients that I possess expertise in my field.

I’m glad that your friend is going back to school. I see 30 somethings, 40 somethings, 50 somethings and even 60 somethings in my classes. She’s NOT alone. In essence, education is a life long process. Every once and a while, we get a little piece of paper for our efforts. :)

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