Back to School in Your 40’s, 50’s or 60’s

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

Benjamin Franklin

You are never too old to pursue your dreams. For me, going back to school to get my graduate degree was one of my dreams. Everyday, there was a nudging in my gut that this part of my life was incomplete. In fact, there was not a day that I did not at least consider how differently my life would be if I did return to school. For over 15 years, I dodged the dream with valid reasons and straight up trifling excuses . Can you imagine what you can do with all that time? I spent 15 years dreaming and imagining and at the same time stunted in taking those first steps.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

Dr. Martin L. King Jr.

First step: Take the first step. Stop thinking about it; Be about it!

Second step: I developed a game plan that included being honest about my dream. I developed a personal strategic plan with my personal mission statements and goals. This written plan was my vision board for my dreams and all I aspired for my life to attain. Click the hyperlink to get a sample of how to write a personal strategic plan. It works if you work it!

Next step: I consider myself a practical person. Therefore, I commit to research so it gives the pursuit of this dream much more dimension and meaning. Below are a few statistics I uncovered:

• The overall college enrollment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds has been higher for females than for males every year since 2000.
• In 2017–18, women earned 61% of all associate’s degrees, 60% of all master’s degrees, and 54% of doctoral degrees conferred.
• A Georgetown University study found that bachelor’s degree holders earn 84% more than those with a high school diploma over the course of their career.

Who said you’re too old? You are not alone.

• Actress Estelle Getty was 63 when her role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls shot her to widespread fame.
• Julia Child first ate French food at 36.  Studied at the Cordon Bleu and hosted The French Chef at 51.
• Grandma Moses became a folk artist and cultural icon at 78.
• Stan Lee was well into his 40’s when the success of Spiderman, Daredevil, Hulk, X-Men and Avengers catapulted him into the Marvel Universe.  His art and partnership with Jack Kirby toppled the DC world in 1967.  The rest is MCU history.
• I achieved my Master of Science in Human Services just before my 50^th birthday. 

Why?

According the United Nations – World Population Aging: Between 2015 and 2030, the number of older persons — those aged 60 years or over — in the world is projected to grow by 56 per cent, from 901 million to more than 1.4 billion.

• You want to stay competitive.  Because people are living longer, career choices and services for the senior community is becoming a viable professional choice.
• You’re fulfilling a dream.  For many families, you may be the sole college graduate in your family.  Please do not disregard the opportunity to be a steward of your smarts, skills, and drive.
• You’re seeking a second chapter.  I encourage all my female friends nearing retiring age.  As you prepare for retirement, consider what education can mean to start that dream career. Going after an active second chapter to the life God has blessed you to live. Further, those kids are grown; it’s time for you to invest in you and do something different. Just do it!

Careers worth going back to college.

Find money for college.

• Before spending university dollars; try taking classes at a community college and then matriculate to your university of choice to complete those specialty courses toward your major.
• Plan for education just like you did for your child.  If you plan far enough in advance, you can save up to $15,000 per year to a 529 plan.  A 529 plan is an investment account that offers tax-free earnings growth and tax-free withdrawals when the funds are used to pay for qualified education expenses. For college, university and other eligible post-secondary educational institutions, this includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, computers and sometimes room and board. 
• Grants and Scholarships.
• If you have an outstanding student loan with your alma mater and wish to return to the same college to complete the degree, some schools will offer debt forgiveness plans on existing student loans.
• Tuition assistance programs
• Work while in school

Practical and Workable Schedule

• Allow your friends and family to help pick up the kids from school and/or drop them off to sports and after school programs.
• Look into online classes.  Online classes saved my life.  I studied and logged in as my time management allowed.  YOU take full ownership of the way you study, write those papers, and complete classwork.
• Life experience is worth something.  Experiential learning can earn course credit; which means less time on something you already know and more time to learning something new.
• Be realistic.  Take one class at a time.  If you have more time to take an additional class, then do it.  But be sure to pace yourself so you may achieve each milestone with excellence.

On the very first day of class, the first instructor of my very first class also happened to be my student advisor. In a room of 25, I was sitting in the classroom with students who were younger than I and there may have been a few who were around my age group. As I was looking around the room, she began her introduction with her name and then this very direct reality, “You are here because you’re saying you’re serious about your educational future. You are here because you want me to invest in you. This also means you must first invest in yourselves. You will have to make sacrifices. No more BBQs and birthday parties, shopping and spa days. Say bye to your friends and see you later to Pookie and them cousins you don’t see very often anyway. Hug your spouses and explain to your kids that mommy/daddy are doing something important. This time is dedicated to reading the material, studying for the tests, and writing papers and presentations. There is no backing out and if you do, you are quitting before you have even tried. Come see me after class if you are having second thoughts.”

After I picked my mouth off the floor, I looked around at the intimated looks in the room. But there were a few faces with which I connected. By the next class, attendance was down to 15 students. But within that group, I felt a part of a community of adult students who were equally earnest to earn their degree.

There were routines to learn in order to prepare for each morning, noon and night for the years ahead. I had to tap into the strength of my will to go from one day to the next. I recall the early mornings dedicated to food prep breakfasts, lunches and dinners; attempts to squeeze in some form of a workout, planning a week in advance what I was going to wear to work; text books to the 24-hr. laundry mat while I washed a load or two; lots of lunches at my desk so I can squeeze a chapter of reading. I missed birthday gatherings, baby showers, weddings, and other outdoor activities. The summer was especially challenging because the sun was out and I truly missed my friends. My co-workers noticed the circles under my eyes, yet were so kind to not embarrass me about them. There were plenty of times when I cried and yelled at myself for doing this to myself. In retrospective, this was another opportunity to see what I was made of and what I was created to endure.

After 3-1/2 years of year-round on-line classes, study and many, many missed social engagements, I look back at the accomplishment of achieving this personal dream. To this day, I am still in contact with a few classmates and instructors. There are a few classmates who remain a part of my tribe whom I love and who love me. My professional network has expanded because of these relationships.

Even now, I am overwhelmed with emotions and I shed tears of joy of what this commitment has afforded me in terms of personal fulfillment, career, and making good use of what God has afforded me. This experience has more than exceedingly abundantly fulfilled one of my dreams. I strongly encourage you to step out on faith in yourself. I believe that every good and perfect thing (word, deed, thought, dream, hope) is a gift from the Heavens above. Your Father would not put those things in your soul to consider if it were not for you to do. I believe for every one of your vision boards, God provides the resources, the time, the support, and strength of character to execute them with excellence. He wants your best so He can smile proudly at what He’s accomplished in you. So think about that special dream and take that first step.

…now what, Linda.