Pace Paw Print

I am a commuter student at Pace. I was asked not for that perspective for this piece, but for my view as an older student. I am wrapping up my second year of studies, but I am about 20-25 years older than most of my classmates. I am also married and the mom of two great boys, who are seven and ten.

When considering how my perspective differs from that of my fellow peers, the thing that comes to my mind most is prioritizing. I know we all have the same number of hours in a day, but as a parent, I have to get it all done during "normal" hours. I cannot pull an all-nighter because I have to get up with my kids at 7am and get them off to elementary school. This boils down to being really good at time management (when I'm doing the right thing) or being really stressed out (when I don't plan ahead.) This year I seem to have a good grip on things. And with midterms behind us, I am feeling pretty good about the rest of the semester/year. I am only taking nine credits each semester, though. I know a lot of my classmates have much heavier loads.

One advantage to being older is not getting caught up in some of the competitive aspects of being a student, the social stuff. I'm not interested in sororities, so I do not have to worry about others' judgments of me in that regard. I have seen a few girls in my classes who seem overly concerned about how they are perceived by their peers, and I am glad I am past the point of worrying about all that.

There have been a few times I have been mistaken for the instructor in class, but I think my peers see pretty early on that I am just another person here to better herself. Most of my classmates are supportive and accepting, and I am comfortable here.

I wish I could participate in some of the extracurricular activities, but I have to balance my time between home and school. And sometimes my kids must take the priority. Being a part-time student, I'm on the slow track to getting my degree. However, I know it is never too late, and I am well on my way.

My advice to those who are going for their degrees right out of high school is to stick with it. You will be glad you did, and you should be proud of yourselves for getting it done early. Focus on yourselves while you can.

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