Essay 3

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=145 BGCOLOR="#3366CC" TEXT="#080000" background="03fff483.gif"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Taking the Plunge: A Journey Back to the World of Education</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>By Wendy D. Cook</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="040ff483.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#6666FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>HIGHTIMES</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Times New Roman" >    </FONT> |    <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HIGHTIMES"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contents"><U>Contents</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Editorial Letter"><U>Editorial Letter</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Essay 1"><U>Essay 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Essay 2"><U>Essay 2</U></A>   |   <B>Essay 3</B>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Essay 4"><U>Essay 4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Essay 5"><U>Essay 5</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="041f0050.gif" border=0 width="496" height="5" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Essay 3</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   If someone asked you to describe an "average college student," what would you say?  Most people would describe the typical high school graduate, seventeen to twenty years old, no spouse or children, just beginning their trek into adulthood.  This was my view as well until just this past fall when I made the decision to go back to school myself.  When I started my classes, I began to see them on campus everyday, transitioning older adults return to their education: the gray-haired woman studying intently in the Student Center or the gentleman in his mid-forties standing in front of the pond lighting a cigarette.  I was just in such a period of my life.  I was widowed six years ago and have been raising my three children and holding down a job bartending for the past few years.  I knew that something had to change and that I couldn't "sling drinks" for the rest of my life, but the thought of college at my age was overwhelming.  Who would watch the baby?  Where would I get the money to pay for all of the expenses involved?  Do I have time to do all of the homework that will be required?  These were just a few of the questions that raced through my mind.  I am, by no means, the "average college student," and because of that fact I am faced with a whole new set of challenges that most "average college students" do not have to worry about.  There were many factors that I had to take into account before taking the plunge again and hitting the books.  </div> <bR> <div>      First and foremost, finances always seem to be the main drawback to anything in life.  Most of us who are returning to our education after some period of absence face a whole new set of financial challenges.  The greatest would be supporting a family.  Not only do you have to worry about paying for your schooling and supporting yourself but you also have to worry about where you are going to raise the money to help support your family while you drop your hours at work, or some quit working all together to return to school.  Fortunately, for me, I have a wonderful man at home who does not mind shouldering part of the burden of supporting the family.</div> <bR> <div>      Here at Highline we have a wonderful financial aid office that can make miracles happen.  Various forms of financial aid are available for students.   Highline grants, Federal Pell grants, state-need grants and various scholarship opportunities are only a few options available to the returning student.  In my case, I had to submit an income adjustment form, which takes quite a bit of time to process.  In fact, it still was not processed when fall quarter started!  I was terrified that I was going to have to wait to begin my classes, but the wonderful ladies in financial aid gave me a grant from Highline to cover my tuition until my paperwork processed.  Since then, my financial aid has gone through and most of my expenses are covered.</div> <bR> <div>      Okay, hurdle number one was behind me.  What about all of those young people that I am going to have to be around everyday at classes?  Won't they laugh at me?  Many they will just think that I am stupid or something!  These were the absurd thoughts that raced through my mind.  I was terrified of my fellow students.  I felt like I was the first person in the world to have to go to college later in life.  After the first day, my fears began to ease.  I saw all of the other parents taking their wee ones to the childcare center.  Many of them looked just like me.  It took me a couple of weeks to realize that there are quite a few people just like me trying to better their circumstances in life with a college level education.  Not only that, but the "average college students" here at Highline have been nothing but supportive.  The first time I visited the tutoring center, I expected the "average college student" that was tutoring me to laugh or snicker.  Instead, she helped me with the areas that I was having problems in and encouraged me in my studies here at Highline.  Students here at Highline have gone out of their way to encourage me and make me feel at home.       </div> <div>      </div> <div>      Furthermore, my issues of self-doubt were also a major sticking point for me.  When you have been raising a family and out in the work force for a period of time, you begin to doubt your ability to learn.  I wasn't sure if my brain would still be able to retain all of the piles of information that I knew I would encounter.  Although I do not have to really budget my study time wisely, I have found, after a few months of adjustment, that you don't forget how to learn, you just get a bit rusty.  As soon as you put the wheels back in motion, it all comes back to you.</div> <bR> <div>      At Highline, there are countless resources to help you put those wheels back in motion.  The Writing Center and the Tutoring Center are fabulous.  They have someone there to help you with any subject you might encounter problems with and you can stop in anytime that they are open.  The library and computer labs are also valuable resources.  Highline provides us with everything that we need to succeed in our chosen course of study.  These resources are especially valuable to those of us who haven't written a formal essay or a cover letter in almost ten years!</div> <bR> <div>      My second issue to address was easier than I had imagined.  The childcare issue was a breeze.  The only hard part turned out to be actually allowing my precious two-year-old to be cared for by someone other than family.  The daycare center at Highline is top notch.  Not only does my daughter receive quality childcare, but she is also learning quite a bit.  She constantly comes home singing a new song.  She can now recite the alphabet and number up to ten and she makes beautiful artwork.  She looks forward to seeing her friends at school everyday.</div> <bR> <div>      Now that my young one was securely enrolled in the daycare, I was forced to deal with the time factor.  Where would I find the quality time for my family and still be able to squeeze in my school time, homework, and a part-time job?  This has probably been one of the hardest issues of all.  Lucky for me the children go to bed by 8:30 p.m.  This gives me the opportunity to do any and all homework from 8:30 p.m. until I finish (sometimes the wee hours of the morning).  On average, I spend approximately five to six hours a day at school, anywhere between one and four hours per night on homework, and force myself to find at least two to three hours of quality time with the family.  As far as my household duties, which end up being neglected, I have been very fortunate to have that wonderful man in my life that picks up my slack.  He has been quite the lifesaver.  There is no way any of this would be possible without him.  </div> <bR> <div>      My decision to venture back into the world of learning was a very hard decision to make.  I have learned in the few months that I have been here at Highline that most of my fears were unfounded.  There are many factors that I had to take into account that an "average college student" may not have to worry about but none of them was impossible to overcome.  I know that the decisions that I have made will benefit my family and me in the long run and, the faculty and students at Highline Community College will be there to help every step of the way.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>