In 1987, I sauntered across the stage at Meadowbrook Hall in Rochester, Michigan with the rest of my graduating class (minus the couple of kids who didn’t earn that privilege). I shook the outstretched hands of the various educators who graced the stage and who had the pleasure of getting to know my sweet little self over the 4 years I attended Andover High School. And I was handed my diploma.
Luckily, as I made my way precariously back to my seat, I didn’t trip down the stairs of the stage or step on any toes as I held the rolled up certificate nervously in my hand.
And then? I went home and enjoyed my last summer working at camp in Charlevoix.
Mentally, I think I stayed in high school. But physically, when September 1987 came, I hit the local Community College where I took my freshman college courses.
I loved it there. But I hated being in school. I was not a student. I did fine. My grades weren’t great. I was, however, excelling in the art of being a social butterfly.
I had no direction. No plan. I didn’t have any clue what I wanted to be when I decided to grow up.
2 years of college led to 2 years of university, led to 2 more years at the community college. No degree. Lots of skipped classes and drunken nights though. Fun times. Wasted days. Wasted youth.
Eventually, I used the excuse of my Mom being sick to drop out. Why should I keep wasting my precious time and my parents hard earned money so I can party every night and sleep all day? I packed up my stuff and went home.
I. Am a College Drop-Out.
I’m not proud of this fact. I’m actually quite ashamed that I don’t have a degree. It has always embarrassed me when someone questions what I did before I was a Mom and I know they are wondering what letters I have after my name. But I’ll have you know that when I did attend school, it was NOT for a prefix.
I felt like a loser.
I spent my adult years feeling extremely inadequate. All because my 6 years of college(I went back, on and off, after I returned home) were futile and I left the institution with nothing but stories of parties and an alcohol induced body bloat.
Here I am. 23 years later. About to start college, yet again. About it give it another go round.
This time, I’m facing classes as a somewhat mature adult. I’m ready to tackle this. I think I actually know what I want to be when I grow up.
I’m not going to skip classes and hang out in the cafeteria. I’m only taking two classes though this semester. I’d be stupid to skip. I’m spending my own money this time.
I don’t have to worry about who I’m going to bar with on Thursday nights anymore. Back in “the day”, Thursday was the big night to go out. And instead of going to class, we’d sit in the cafeteria discussing who was driving with whom and what our outfits were going to be. Nowadays, Thursday nights are a big sit on the couch with my husband while he farts event. So who has time to even consider going to the bar?
I’m so beyond the life of a young college student. Heck, I’m old enough to be the majority of the student bodies mom.
I just hope the professors don’t take advantage of my age and leave me to babysit while they step out of the classroom for a moment. Although, with the hourly wage a sitter gets multiplied by the number of heads per class, that might not be a bad gig.
But I am excited. This begins a new chapter in the story of my life. And I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
Best of luck to you. Stay strong and committed. I often think about going back, I didn’t really drop out, I was kicked out for poor grades and did some community college but never went back. Luckily my profession is not enhanced with a degree. Just a personal thing for me. My father graduated college in his 50’s. I think your approach this time around will make you successful.
Again, I wish you the best in this endeavor!
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Good for you! I’m cheering you on.
.-= TeacherMommy´s last blog ..Not That I’m Desperate For Topics or Anything *Ahem* =-.
Good luck! It’s a LOT of hard work and takes a TON of personal time, but it is SO worth it!
🙂
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Treading Water =-.
Great story. I haven’t been out of school for quite as long but I too was a college dropout for many of the same reasons. There are many times now that I fraternize with individuals that have some kind of degree or another, mostly masters degrees, and a lot of the time I feel inferior somehow. That I didn’t accomplish as much as these highly educated people. I question whether I should have staying in school…but for what? More student loans…still ending up working in retail stores because even with a degree there is no guarantee you will get that dream job? I have thought of going back but I have finally resigned myself to knowing that will never happen. I give you props for choosing to go back now. Best of luck to you. 🙂
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Not Enough Coffee In the World… =-.
You brought back memories with the description of HS graduation – I graduated the year after you, also at Meadowbrook. I went to Southfield High – I remember competing against Andover in sports, theatre and band. 🙂
I drifted around after high school too – from EMU to community college, taking a semester off, back to OCC, then finally to WMU where I did find myself finally and managed to graduate after 6 years of school. And to my credit (or because I had no other choice), I did ‘use’ my degree until I was laid off in 2008. Honestly though, when I look at all of my friends that I graduated with, nobody is actually using the degree they earned. And my husband dropped out after years of college (and the loans to prove it). I finally stopped bugging him about going back several years ago when I realized that he and school just aren’t meant to be. I’ve thought about going back for a different career option – especially since I’ve been unemployed, but there are just so many obstacles with having kids and a family… Good for you to be taking that leap and going back – I admire you a lot for it!
.-= Deb – Mom of 3 Girls´s last blog ..2009 in Review =-.
Wishing you luck on this adventure! I hope someday I will get the ganas (Balls) to go back. I think I’m more afraid of having lost the 96 hours I have… You Go Girl.
GO! GO! GO! I will be your personal cheerleader. Minus the skirt. and the splits. and the throwing up in the air thing.
Best wishes.
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Bad Morning =-.
Same here! I went for 4 years, but didn’t get my degree. Now, almost 20 years later, I’m about to start my last class. It’s never stood in my way of a job, but I always had to explain it away, and that frustrated me.
Good for you for finishing, and good luck!
.-= lz´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday. The Long Goodbye. =-.
Good luck to you!
.-= Lady Mama´s last blog ..Bad weather activities 101 =-.
Yeah You!! I’m going to be cheering you on from here on the sidelines. I keep saying I want to go back to school, but at my age I can’t afford to do it on loans and I’m sure there probably wouldn’t be enough grants 🙁
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Yay! So proud of M. Go get ’em!
That is so awesome – good for you!
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That’s great!!! Good luck to you, recovering party girl.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Study finds no link between MMR vaccine and autism =-.
I think it is SO awesome that you are going back to school!
Our college experience sounds so similar. The skipping class to hang out in the cafeteria & everything…
I do have my regrets of not finishing and would love to go back. Maybe I will one day… we’ll see.
BEST OF LUCK !! 🙂
You’re going to kill it! And you’re right- now that you’re an adult and it’s coming out of our own pocket you’ll take it more seriously. Since I’m a SAHM and my husband is the sole earner I would feel so bad if I didn’t do well in school since he’s paying for it.
Being a student the second time around will be a totally different experience. They are gonna totally dig you.
And if all else fails, you do have the side babysitting gig 😉
Are you going to MCC? University Center? You need to tell me all about it . . .
.-= Laskigal´s last blog ..How to Rip Off a Label =-.
That’s awesome! What are you going for? Good luck!
I’m so excited for you and proud. You will be awesome and such a great role model for your kids and the younger students. Good luck!!
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..Insurance reform: too many idiots =-.
You can do it and I give you a great deal of credit for bettering yourself. Let’s face it I don’t think it will be more difficult than parenting…or it’s best day. Hope this does not mean you will not have time to still write for the blog.
.-= Alyssa´s last blog ..Not My Mom… I Promise =-.
I’ve decided that taking time off to futz around for at least 10 years following high school graduation should be mandatory. 18 year old kids have no appreciation for the awesome opportunity higher ed provides. Spending time traveling or going straight into the work force first is humbling and focusing. If I were to go back to school now, at this stage in my life, I would take full advantage of the experience to learn a much as possible about stuff I’m interested in. What I wouldn’t give for brain exercise that doesn’t involve counting poopy diapers or what to defrost for dinner…HAVE A BLAST, ENJOY IT, AND GET YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON!
.-= Kami Lewis Levin´s last blog ..Girl Talk Thursday: No Woody Here (heh, heh) =-.
Go for it! It took me 10 years to finish college. And I was one of those “returning adult students” who laugh at the kids who were tired because of hangovers or too much sex. Me, I was up all night with a toddler, running a household on my own. It was so worth it! You’ll get to annoy the heck of them too. Have fun!
Ive been in college forever.
I’m the queen of switching majors AND switching schools.
You’ll do great this time. You have the motivation and a goal in mind. As well as maturity.
You will also, very likely, graduate before me. *sigh*
Congratulations!!
I went back to college when my youngest was in kindergarten. I had gone for 1 1/2 years before I was married and didn’t go back for 10 years….and they wouldn’t transfer many of my credits so I had to put in 4 more years to get my BSN in nursing…..but I did it (I don’t know HOW now!) and put in 20 years as a nurse…I am now retired!!
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