This old girl, she played 10, she went back to school again, with a knick-knack paddy-whack give a gal a loan, my book bag is rolling on.
Yep, I’m back in school at age 46! Interestingly, there are a number of students over the age of 40 who attend Fresno City College. According to FCC’s Institutional Research database, more than 17,000 students between the ages of 40 and 49 were students at FCC from 2007 to 2012.
Starting school after so many years of not attending presents many different obstacles you must overcome. Jan Benson, a 55-year-old double major in sign language interpreting preparation and psychology at FCC, feared not being able to do college level assignments. Benson overcame her anxiety by surrounding herself with positive people. Benson enjoys learning, and will be transferring to continue her education at a university some time next year.
Most men and women over the age of forty aren’t interested in going to school. They make comments like “I’m too old,” “I can’t concentrate” or “I couldn’t stand it!” What they fail to realize is that this is a good way to encourage their kids to go to college, and to help them understand the importance of having a college education.
My 21-year-old son and my 13-year-old daughter constantly praise me for going to school. My daughter says, “Ok mommy be good at school,” and my son says, “Hang in there mom, you can do it!” You see, that is the best part of going back to school at age 46; I’m setting a good example for my children. My daughter is an honor student and has plans to attend UC Santa Cruz and the Harvard School of Education. She was so excited when I brought her to FCC. She talked about how she wanted to live on campus, join different clubs and be part of the student government. I’ve really made a lasting impression upon my daughter by showing her my determination to succeed in college.
While there are many challenges that older students face, they still march on, keeping the reward of earning a degree in full sight.
Anita Blackwell’s journey at FCC has been a long one. She has overcome many obstacles that most women her age could not bear. With the loss of a loved one, coping with illness and trying to make ends meet with income from disability, her attitude is to continue until she has earned a degree in social work.
“Failure is not an option. I’ve worked too hard and too long,” she said.
Students age 40 and older feel a certain level of discomfort being in the company of younger students. Some find the playful, rambunctious stamina of the youth annoying, not to mention their bleak outlook on life.
Yes, getting older brings on a multitude of ailments. Arthritis, dimming eyesight, lack of energy, and the like, are constant reminders of youth slowly creeping away. But some folks refuse to be slowed down by father time. These old folks, they played two, they played knick knack back to school, with a knick knack paddy whack elders want to learn, a quest for knowledge they do yearn.
