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There is hope for older short, round women in college. When I decided to go to back to college it was like a dream come true. I was middle aged and about as physically fit as a bowl of jello. After registration I stopped by the ladies room before I went to the bookstore. While I was in there, two young coeds came in and were discussing their classes and professors. One young lady said to the other, “My Mom wants to go to college.” “Oh, that’s great”, said the other. “Yes, but she’s too old,.” said the first girl. “How old is your Mom?” her friend said. ‘ She’s thirty-eight!”, said the amazingly intelligent one. I was glad she couldn't’t see the shock on my face. I can’t imagine thirty-eight being too old for anything. Suddenly I felt ancient. I waited till they left before I opened the door to my stall. I made a point of combing my hair and freshen my lipstick before I went out I did not want to look “too old to go to college” I waited long enough for this opportunity and no one was going to ruin it for me. I had registered for classes on the last day and of course I had to take what was available. It didn't’t take me long to learn exactly why these high demand classes were available. My first class was a located on the North Campus on the 3rd floor about as far North as it could be without being in the out of doors. My next class was exactly the opposite of the first class. It was located on 3rd floor as far South as it could be. What I didn't’t know was each part of the campus was located on hills separated by a four-lane highway. The parking lot was located conveniently on the same level as the highway and a beautiful sidewalk lead to 49 steps to go up to the North Quad also known as the North Campus. And about the same number to get to the South Campus. My classes alternated between these two campuses so I spent my day going up and down theses two sacred hills lugging my 50 lb backpack. . . The first day of class I parking in the designated area and carried my backpack This was before the backpacks with the wheels was popular. I was dressed in a skirt and sweater with pretty shoes with a small heel. By the time I got less the half way up the steps, I knew this was going to be the last day I wore the pretty shoes. My knees where shaking. My feet hurt. I was ready to collapse. I stopped and made a point of pretending to look for something in my purse as I took a few minutes to catch my breath. I tried to breath in through my nose and out through my mouth or was in through the mouth and out through the nose/ Heck, I was just trying to breath period! My heart was pounding. I prayed, “Please God, don‘t let me have a heart attack! I tried to look relaxed and in no distress just in case Miss My -Mom -Is -too -Old -for –College, just happen to be coming up the steps. I spent that whole term keeping an eye out for these two young ladies. Eventually I was wearing jeans and Rebooks to school. I got in better shape and actually survived the first set of steps but I think I was always on the look out for someone who looked like they knew CPR, because by the time I got to may second class I was definitely considering the possibility. I learned to get a map of the campus and chose my classes more carefully. I later learned that while older students feel intimidated by the young students. They are so smart because they are fresh out of school. They have all the facts fresh in their minds and can just slip right back into the habit of studying .They are just as intimated by us because we set a higher standard for them. We learn things more easily because we have more life experiences to relate too. Since we pay for our classes we are more serious about the education. |
