Adult Education Diploma

The most difficult part of starting college after being out of school for many years is not the admission process, not the financial aid paperwork, not the entrance exams, it is finding the confidence in oneself to believe you can learn and grow in the academic world.  It is so very difficult when you are doing relatively well in your life to put yourself into a position where you feel vulnerable to failure.  When I finally found the courage to pursue my adult college degree I did so by attending online classes for adults where I thought I would be protected and could hide my inadequacies from my fellow classmates.  After my first semester of adult college classes I found my confidence and was able to really put myself out there and start attending live evening college courses.  I have not stopped since I started three years ago.  I not only found my confidence, I found a true love of learning and applying this knowledge in everything I do.

My success, my enjoyment and my overall academic experience has now tweaked the confidence in those around me to also pursue their adult education diplomas.  My own 22 year old daughter is now talking about beginning classes to attain her degree.  As a mother, I could not be more thrilled.  Another person I have influenced is a friend from work.  She has accomplished so much more than I professionally but still doubts her ability to thrive in the classroom because she claims she did not do well in high school, some 35 years ago.  She is not the same person she was at the age of 17.  She is bright, ambitious and well grounded.  I was shocked to hear of the fear she felt in not believing she has what it takes to attain her adult college degree.  I have no doubt she will thrive and excel in this pursuit.

Where are you in your life?  Do you have the courage to go after your adult college degree?  All you need to do is find the courage it takes to visit Granite State College and the confidence in yourself will soon follow.
 

Some people love to write. They write poetry or stories or emails or blogs and it's the best part of their day. Other people get by with a single word email and avoid all other types of writing like the plague. 
But some of those same people want to take Adult Education Courses. They want to further their education but they figure, no, I can't do that, I'll never be able to write the papers and do the written work required in college.

But Granite State College is the perfect place for you. There are supports everywhere to help you get through the writing and successfully complete receive your Adult Education Diploma or college degree.
In one of my courses, a woman was filled with knowledge and great ideas. She had worked with children in many different positions, but when it came to getting her ideas on paper, she was struggling. She wrote the final paper but it was hard to read. The information was there but it was disorganized and hard to read. After we talked, I agreed to meet with her over a cup of coffee. We sat down with the paper and worked on getting it into a final form. After a great cup of coffee and an hour of talking, we had perfected the paper.

Granite State is like that. Students and faculty going out of their way to make sure that your college experience is successful. So don't be afraid, give it a try.

I was fortunate enough to receive one of the ten $1,000 Alumni Learner Association (“ALA”) scholarships from Granite State College last spring.  When asked this year to volunteer for the annual Alumni scholarship phone-a-thon I jumped at the opportunity.  This is how I spent my Sunday afternoon/evening this week.  Our calling lists consisted of former adult education diploma recipients, alumni of Granite State College.  For those of you unfamiliar with our location we, in the State of New Hampshire, are currently under a State of Emergency due to the widespread damage sustained from a storm last Thursday.  Many residents are still without power.  I assume this is the reason why I received the same message over and over again during my call attempts, “the number you have dialed is not in service.”

Undeterred by the numerous phone service problems I ploughed through my list determined to reach as many alumni as I was able.  I reached countless people on their cell phones huddled around the woodstove with their family members trying to stay safe and warm while they awaited the coming of their fourth night without power.  All were grateful for their safety and happy to speak with me.  Some had trees sitting on top of their roofs, campers, garages and driveways.  Even in such immediate bleak circumstances most were happy to donate what they could.  That may have been only $5.00 or $10.00 but they gladly pledged to their alma mater, to help those who are now in the position they found themselves in not long ago, that of an student pursuing their adult college degree.

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to reach out and speak to so many of the students who came before me, who struggled, fought and ultimately earned their long awaited degrees by enrolling in Granite State College’s adult college program.  I was amazed by the generosity, appreciation and tenacity of our alumni.  I have a lot to live up to when I become an official alumnus this June.  I look forward to joining this group and plan on carrying my weight in this regard.