Non-traditional student succeeds

originally published in THE PENN

L.M.Ferguson@iup.edu
LORI FERGUSON Penn Contributing Writer
Issue date: 9/13/04 Section: Opinion

You may have seen me in the dining hall, walking around campus, at campus events or in classes. You may have wondered, just as I was asked last fall, “Are you a teacher or a student?” And even if you know I am a student, and an undergraduate at that, you might have wondered why a woman in her thirties, who is married to an IT professional and has a 4-year-old son, is back in college. The answer to that is simple: I took the “scenic” route on my way to my college diploma at IUP.My freshman year at IUP was 1988-89 — quite a while ago. I arrived here a cocky 17-year-old who had been told all her life how bright she was and who was spoiled by hardly having to work to succeed in junior high and high school.I thought I knew it all and believed college would be just as easy. I didn’t listen to my advisor regarding my class schedule and increased my course load to 17 credits — including Arabic!That was my first mistake. If I hadn’t thought that I knew myself better than he did, that I needed more of a challenge, I believe I would have prevailed my first time through.I may have known my past academic record, but my adviser knew the realities of college life.My second mistake came from a lack of maturity. I was so overwhelmed with my freedom from my family that I forgot why I was here in the first place: to get an education. It may seem like no big thing to skip a class, and sometimes there are legitimate reasons to miss, like illness.However, if it becomes a habit for you, like it did for me, you’ll end up on academic probation. If your classes are difficult, get help from a tutor. There are many people who can help you if you seek them out! If your grades do not improve, you may be academically dismissed from IUP — just like I was.I’m not saying that you should live like a drone. You should be involved in campus activities, for your education isn’t limited to the classroom and your choice of activities will supplement your resume when you search for employment.And having a rich social life helps you to forge friendships that will support you through your academic journey, and they may even last you a lifetime. Your first job, though, is to learn. That’s exactly what school is — your job. Take it as seriously as you did your summer work. Students need to find a balance, myself included.Last night I shared with my mother something I could not my freshman year at IUP: my certificates and letters congratulating me on making the Dean’s List. It may be 15 years later, but some things truly are better late than never.

~ by maralorelei on October 7, 2007.