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by Joshua Buck- The Metropolitan
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| From left to right, Phyllis Coffman, Kathy McKoy,
and Marsha Emerson are only three of many students over the age
of 50 pursuing a college education at Metro. |
You probably have one or two of them in few of your classes; you
probably have them as friends and project partners. They are grandfathers
and grandmothers, and they are students.
Walk around campus, you will see immense backpacks on wheels being
pulled from building to building. Most students are dressed in the
universal student uniform: jeans, T-shirts and sneakers. There are
the occasional tattoos, some body piercings, streaks of green or blue
hair here and there, but look closely, and you’ll also find
patches of gray hair.
Older students go back to school for different reasons, middle-aged
students admit that starting over is mentally challenging.
Marsha Emerson, 58, a senior at Metro has two associate degrees in
general studies from Front Range Community College and Arapahoe Community
College from years back. She had worked for 34 years; after she got
laid off, she made up her mind to come to Metro and get her bachelor’s
degree in English.
“I came back to school because I want to finish my undergraduate
degree,” said Emerson. “I will probably go for my graduate
degree, too.”
One would think that coming back to school would be weird and a bit
of surprise for older students, but not for Emerson, who sees herself
as one of the students.
“I was amazed how friendly and warm professors and students
are,” Emerson said.
Emerson credits her husband for coming back to school and staying
focused, she said it was his idea for her to come back to school in
the first place. She also said her youngest daughter, who is about
to graduate with her Master’s degree in secondary education
from the University of Colorado, Denver, has been supportive.
Emerson said older students go to school for different reasons: some
just want to learn, while others do it to prove a point — that
they can do it.
Emerson plans to write children’s books and work with kids
after graduation. She is currently working at Cherry Creek school
district through her Internship Avid Program tutoring middle school
kids.
“I have a belief,” said Phyllis Coffman, 62, a student
at Metro. “We should always be learning working, playing. It
is not good for the brain to do nothing.”
Coffman, a freshman majoring in psychology, said she has been in
the computer business for more than three decades and has taken a
few college courses, but not for credit.
“I was quite confused,” Coffman said. “I did not
know how to study or take a test, different professors have different
suggestions on how to.”
Coffman suggested that schools should have a program for returning
students who have left school for a while where they can learn how
to take tests and how to study .
Coming back to school was not all shock for Coffman: there is some
excitement, too.
“Being around young people gives you a little bit of life,”
Coffman said
Coffman is a mother, a grandmother, and a daughter; she keeps in
touch with her children, her grandchildren and supports her father,
88, and mother, 83.
“I have to balance all my responsibilities with schooling,
and I have learned to do that,”
Coffman said. “I see school as my company that I have to take
care of.”
Going back to school meant a different thing to Kathy McKoy, 52,
who is seeking a certificate in Gerontology. McKoy graduated from
the University of Colorado , Boulder with her first degree in anthropology.
Ten years later, she graduated with her Master’s degree in history
from the University of Missouri in St Louis.
“I decided to come back to school so I can study in a new field,”
McKoy said.
McKoy’s only surprise in coming back to school is that academic
requirements are easier compared to graduate school. McKoy said she
chose Metro to eliminate long commutes and because of the diversity
in play.
Although adults McKoy’s age indulge themselves in frequent
trips and sight seeing, McKoy said she did that with her parents when
she was younger and would like to do something that has meaning.
“Going to school, to me, is a luxury,” McKoy said. “It
is interesting to have time to study what you want to study.”
McKoy plans to do volunteer work with her immediate community after
graduation.
“It is good to do something that has meaning to it.”
McKoy said.
| Older students should know that: |
>Support from family members and friends will go a long way.
>Not all learning comes from books; younger students have fresh
brains >and computer skills that can help you in your studies.
>You also have valuable experiences to share with them.
>Take advantage of on-campus tutoring, advising and learning
centers. |
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