By: Lucy Dixon

The return of non-traditional students (anyone aged 25-95) to college is at an all time high. No wonder. Going back to college is the most confidence-building, life-improving step a person can take in a lifetime. I should know. I returned as a ‘non-traditional’ student. It took a life-changing event to be the catalyst that got me to the registrar’s office. My father passed away and I was suddenly faced with the ‘life is short’ concept on a personal basis.

My advice to you is…don’t wait for a catalyst. Be your catalyst. What do you want from a higher education? Better salary? Increased employment options? Prestige? Let’s face it, few non-traditionals go back to college simply for the academic growth. It doesn’t matter why you return to further your higher education. The point is to go for it. You will find that all of the above reasons will be met.

Make a plan. If you know what you want to study that’s great. If you are unsure, go to the college and talk to counselors. Do research on the internet. Consider what piques your interest. Time and money are too short to be experimenting with different subjects. Go to the financial aid office and the registrar’s office. After a couple of semesters, I went to the dean of my department and asked for old classes that I’d taken in years past to count for required present-day classes. Professors are so delighted to have non-traditional (serious) students that they will bend over backwards to help you reach your goals.

Most importantly, do not allow yourself the option to stop. Keep taking one class after another. When I went back I took classes every single semester without a break. It kept me in college mode and on track.

Although you will make friends in your classes, it is a good thing to let your pre-college friends know your plans. That way they can know that you will be busier than usual. Hope that your friends will support your new endeavor but I found that some resented my return. They felt they were being left behind. Remember this…it is YOUR future you’re working on. Who knows? You may be an example for others to follow. And a higher degree is a magnet for people on the lookout for a potential partner. Someone who has followed through on their education shows perseverance, reliability and accountability. Attributes we all admire in people.

When I got my undergrad degree, I immediately (after another trip to the financial aid office) began my masters degree. Now I have both. Can you imagine that? I never thought I’d be here.

I have a great job that I love in a field I’ve always been interested in, making better money than I’ve ever made. I have my self-respect and the respect of my loved ones. It was the death of my father that prompted me to return to college. I only wish he were around to see that I made it.