Working with prospective adult students at Granite State College, three concerns about returning to college frequently surface and these personal barriers all involve ‘fit’.
Admittedly or not, adults who are in the discernment process about college are worried if they are fit (capable) of taking on the academic challenge that comes with higher ed. “It’s been years since I’ve picked up a text book; am I really up to it?” is a concern that I often hear.
Prospective adult learners looking at colleges that tout adult college programs spend a fair amount of time considering the environment, learning formats and programs when narrowing down their choices of schools. Most adults are uncomfortable thinking about sitting in a classroom with traditional-aged students or trying to figure out how they will be able to make it to classes only offered during the day. They want to pick a college that is a good fit for their life situation and needs.
Like entertainers on stage juggling multiple balls most adult learners have many life priorities. Work, family, home maintenance and leisure activities carve chunks of time out of people’s lives. Going to college is admittedly a big commitment and prospective students have legitimate concerns about their ability to fit it all in.
The good news in Granite State College in built around addressing these three concerns. Small classes populated mostly by adults with significant life experience, evening weekend and online course formats offering the ability to progress at our students’ own pace have made GSC the natural choice for those adults who quite naturally ask themselves the ‘fit’ questions.
If you're considering taking the leap feel free to give me a call. (603-513-1379)
Are you a busy person? Most people would say yes! Are you an ambitious person? Again, most people would say yes! Are you an adult who thinks college is something kids do after high school because they don't want to go to work, or they don't know what they want? To that, I hope you answered no.
What if I were to tell you that many of the people who come to classes at Granite State College are a lot like you? They are adults interested in adult education courses. They may have found a program they are interested in but most are not going to school full time. They are taking part time classes or even online adult education classes to further their education. That is pretty ambitious because they are working during the day and coming to class at night.
But classes only meet one night a week. So, just think, one night a week you could come over after work to a campus in Portsmouth, or Rochester, or Concord, or Manchester, or Berlin or Littleton and take a class instead of crashing in front of TV.
Right now I am teaching a child development course. Two people are taking the course for their Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood, one is taking it for a degree in Behavioral Science, another for an associates degree, and one person is taking it because he thought it would be interesting to know about the theories of child development.
There are so many reasons to come to Granite State College. I hope you will find a reason and I will see you in a class next semester.
It’s that time of year again! It’s time to start thinking about filing the 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For many, this can be an overwhelming process, so here are a few tips to help make your FAFSA filing experience less stressful.
Many traditional schools require the FAFSA to be filed no later than March 1st. Granite State College, however, does not have a filing deadline since our institution provides Adult and Continuing Education classes with rolling admissions. This means that our students can apply for Financial Aid at any point during the year. We do strongly encourage our students to apply by May 1st if possible so they will be considered for any State Grants available. However, if students file after the priority filing date, they will still be considered for the federal aid programs including the Federal Pell Grant and the Stafford Loan Programs.
Students must be enrolled at least Part Time to be eligible to receive federal financial aid. Each school determines what they consider to be Part Time Classes and for Granite State College, students are required to take at least four credits to be eligible for aid. This means that our students who want to Take College Classes Online or in one of our centers, but can only do one class per term are still eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid.
For those students who recently got married, please be very careful when filing your new FAFSA. If you have not received confirmation from Social Security that your name has been updated in their system, you do not want to file your FAFSA using your married name. This will cause the FAFSA to reject. Always file your FAFSA using your legal name; this means the name that is listed on your Social Security card. Do not use abbreviations or nicknames either as this will cause the FAFSA to reject as well.
If at the time you filed your previous year’s tax return you were married, but you are now separated or divorced, still use the joint income listed on the tax return when filing your FAFSA. The Office of Financial Aid can separate out your income to reflect a more accurate financial picture, but will need additional documentation to do so. You will be required to complete a Special Circumstance form. Once your documents are received, the Office of Financial Aid will review them and make any adjustments possible to the information listed on the FAFSA. It is required that the Office of Financial Aid makes these adjustments since any change to a student’s income must be fully documented for audit purposes.
To be considered a veteran, you must have served on Active duty and must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If your service was only for training purposes such as the National Guard or Reserves, you are not considered a veteran for federal financial aid purposes.
The number one mistake students make is leaving a field blank. All income questions must be completed. If the answer is zero or the questions do not apply to you, write in a zero. Do not use dashes or leave the question blank.
If you have an unborn child who will be born before or during the award year (July 1 through June 30th) and that child will receive more than half of his or her support from you, you can count that child as a member of your household when answering the household and dependents questions on the FAFSA.
Always remember to electronically sing your FAFSA with your PIN. The FAFSA will not be considered valid until your signature is applied.
For more tips and instructions, check out this FAFSA Video.
As always, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at Granite State College at 603-513-1392 with any questions or concerns. Happy Filing!
College life can be hard sometimes, maybe harder for others at times. When you find yourself trying to dig yourself out of a hole (or trying to keep yourself out of one, which is just as much work!) it can be discouraging. One of the toughest lessons is knowing there are no easy answers.
This is the second term that I have taken online classes for college. One thing you should know about me, is that I was intimidated by taking online adult education classes, mostly because there was a lot of uncertainty. It was one of the smartest things I've done! Instead of ignoring them altogether (my original plan) I started talking to other students at Granite State College who had taken online classes and they got me excited about it. One student even opened up his laptop to show me the layout of his class.
The reason I bring this up is because recently I have been taking a lot of time looking back at where I was a year ago. A year ago, I was just getting my life put back together, and I was just starting to think about going back to school - I had quit after only having 9 credits (3 classes) from another school. Now I'm a sophomore and I'd like to think I've done a pretty darn good job piecing my life together.
I was having a conversation with an old friend (who goes to another college), and she was telling me that school can get in the way of life. I felt sad for her, because she honestly doesn't know what school is supposed to be like. I didn't start out at Granite State, and I know that if I didn't get that push to go in and talk to somebody here, I wouldn't have gone back to college at all.
An adult college program, for me, is a way for me to grow; every time I'm in a class or even writing a paper, I feel stronger. (Corny I know...but hear me out) When you find yourself in that tough spot, this is the place where you can reach out to people and they are there for you with welcome arms. You are the one that has/is putting in all that work, and every result that you get back is from your hard work. College, and classes, are something that we have control over. Granted, there may be a few things that may not be in our favor, but we still have the chance to affect our outcome.
The things you learn in an adult college program… I remember taking a walk in Oak Park, IL many years ago with a friend from high school. She pointed out a couple homes and commented on them being Frank Lloyd Wright creations. I had no interest; they simply appeared to be boring little homes to me. Some ten plus years later I found myself immersed in adult college courses, one being World Architecture to satisfy my global arts requirement. This is where I was introduced to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and found a true love for all architecture. I also learned that we had a Frank Lloyd Wright home, the Zimmerman house, available for touring right here in New Hampshire! The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester offers several weekly tours of the home. Among the different tour options is one called, “The Four Seasons at the Zimmerman House.” These tours include admittance to the museum with wine and cheese served and live music at the home during the tour.
I finally booked tickets for the winter season tour and invited a couple friends. When the night arrived I discovered one of my friends had taken the same course at Granite State College and the other friend had no idea what she was coming to see when she met up with us but almost immediately became emotional when she realized it was a tour of a Frank Lloyd Wright home. She knew little of him or his work but remembered that her deceased mother had been a huge admirer of Wright’s architecture. She asked the guide how long the home had been open to the public and was so disappointed when she learned it had opened to the public almost two years before her mother’s death. Had she known, she would most definitely have taken her mother. The home was amazing and we all enjoyed every minute of it. During the tour we learned that “Falling Waters,” another amazing home of Wright’s is also open to the public in Pennsylvania. We have all vowed to take a weekend trip together this summer to tour this home as well. My adult college degree did not just educate me on business but opened my eyes and mind to many new experiences and interests.
Last week I was very excited to receive an email from a potential student who had read my blog.
She was extremely frustrated from attempting to get into art school as an adult student. Most of the art schools she contacted were very discouraging. They told her she needed a portfolio and letters of recommendation. "I'm a mom!" She said. "I have been home raising my children. Why do I need a portfolio to show I know how to do something that I am looking to learn?" "Don't they understand that if you aren't coming straight from high school, you might not have these things? Who am I going to ask for a letter of recommendation? My kids? My neighbor? "Isn't there an adult college program for people who want to get an art-related degree?"
We made an appointment for a phone meeting. When we spoke she told me that she was just about to give up on college when she did a Google search for "non traditional students" and found my blog. She said that after she read it, she decided to speak with me to see if Granite State College could help her to achieve her goal.
Happily, I know a thing or two about art schools, in addition to knowing Granite State College. I suggested that she look into coming to GSC for an associate's degree. She could pursue a General Studies degree, filling up her program with all of the art classes that we offer. Although we do not offer enough art classes to create a major, we do offer entry level drawing, painting, sculpture, etc...
By pursing this path, she could start school without having to jump through the hoops that were frustrating her, and through taking our art classes she could begin to create a portfolio. Because this type of studio class is always offered in a live format, she would have instructors that she could ask to write her a recommendation. She would also be able to get her general education classes out of the way. At the end of the General Studies degree she would have 64 college credits to potentially transfer to the art school of her choice.
When I pointed out to her that we were offering an Intro to Drawing class at the Currier Museum in Manchester this winter, She was extremely excited. When I finished explaining how easy it is to apply to Granite State College - she was sold. Her plan is to become a student at the beautiful new Manchester Granite State College campus.
I love helping people to start on the path toward their dreams!
Another twelve weeks has come and gone at Granite State College, and I am emerging on the other side of this term changed once again. Perhaps 'changed' isn't the right word, as each class has enhanced or refined who I am as a person. I don't believe that one can actively engage one's mind and learn new concepts without being impacted. A truth, once learned, becomes a part of who we are. Once our eyes are opened, it would be utter foolishness to close them again to what we have seen.
Learning doesn't stop at the classroom door. Some people consider their educational career to have been completed upon receiving their high school diploma; others equate learning with adult continuing education programs, and "pause" between courses. What I've found from taking my behavioral science classes, as well as the core and elective classes, is that the readings, discussions, and assignments throughout the terms have stirred my hunger for knowledge.
I've often filled the between-times trying to learn more about the subjects I've already learned, or trying to satisfy my curiosity about thoughts and ideas yet to be explored. A simple search for "behavioral science" on YouTube results in many videos illustrating the psychological concepts discussed in textbooks and classes. Another favorite site of mine is http://www.sciencedaily.com, which I've used extensively both in my classes and for my own interest.
One of the many benefits of being a recipient of adult higher education at Granite State College is that it has prepare my mind to be a lifelong learner, not only in the classroom or through the online adult programs, but in the great classroom of life.
There is knowledge waiting to be discovered everywhere. Whet your appetite and prime the pump at Granite State College.
I finally did it! I finished the paper for my independent study project. My paper was on the Influence of Place on the Poets and Poetry of New England. It started out that way anyhow; because I believe the climate and culture of our area definitely finds its way into the work of New England authors. After I began the paper, in fact, when I was almost finished with it, I realized something else: the paper was also about poets who lived very close to the Claremont area. In fact, one of the poets, Wes Mcnair was a graduate of Stevens High School.
Claremont often gets a bad rap when it comes to education, but I like to hope that things are changing, for the better. We now have Granite State College located right on Pleasant Street, we have an active theater group not only at the Opera house, but also in the Middle School and High School. We are also in the process of setting up a branch of OLLI (The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) in Claremont - if you aren't familiar with the program, check it out. OLLI is a program of enrichment classes for people over 50. There are many great classes on a variety of topics at little or no cost, all over the state.
Here I go again getting off topic - I finished my paper! Consequently, I should be done with my adult college classes, ready to walk down the final path in June with my brand new B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing, but somehow I'm still not ready. So for now I am going to continue to take classes; some history, some social studies, and maybe a couple of OLLI offerings. Just because I finished my first goal it doesn't mean I'm done learning. Education is a lifetime process and I intend to enjoy every minute of it!
I attended my 25 year high school reunion this past holiday weekend. I did not attend my 20 year reunion. Let’s face it, I am 50 lbs heavier than in high school, divorced and my kids were still out of control teenagers 5 years ago! Today I am still 50 lbs heavier, divorced, at least one of my daughters has her life together and I have my adult college degree!
I had the time of my life. My friends in high school were mostly those I shared classes with. I worked hard in high school and was in the honors programs. I think I am the only honors student that did not immediately go on to and finish college directly after graduating high school. I felt good about myself this weekend attending the reunion but I was surprised by how others observed me. People saw me as a woman that has finished raising her family, that still has a sharp enough mind and strong enough ambition to go back to school and earn my adult college degree 20 years after they struggled to do the same.
In their mid-forties most of my former female classmates were stay at home moms dealing with the stresses of having become an educated chauffeur, babysitter, tutor, maid and personal assistant to their families. I am now a confident, established, accomplished middle-aged woman with an adult college degree and two adult daughters. Thank you Granite State College for giving me the confidence to attend my 25 year high school reunion, and the degree to back it up!
I have been spending the month of November cultivating an "attitude of gratitude" on Facebook. At least once a day, I have written a brief note about someone or something for which I am thankful. As I had previously written about, the last couple of months have been personally challenging for me, but I've purposely adopted a mindset as of late to focus on the positive things in my life.
So, on that note, I thought I'd mention a few things for which I am particularly grateful for Granite State College this year:
I am thankful for professors who, though physically distant, have shown empathy, patience, and compassion as I've struggled to keep up with this term's coursework. Though I've not had this problem in my previous classes, I've seen these qualities consistently exhibited to my fellow students. The educators at GSC truly want to see us succeed, and are willing to work with us to ensure that.
I am thankful for my advisor, Kate O'Neill. Based out of the Claremont office, she has always made herself available whenever I've had a question, or have needed some guidance in the next steps I should take in my journey.
I am thankful for being able to participate in the GSC student blogging program. Though I've not yet written much, I have appreciated the opportunities to tell my stories, and to encourage anyone considering, or pursuing, an adult college education.
I am thankful for the Granite State College blogs in general. The various posts by some of the administration, teachers, and fellow students have given a state-wide, online school for adults a sense of community. Even though I am an isolated student, I feel as though I am part of a digital campus. It has been great to hear the heartbeats of the very people who make GSC such a great college.
I am thankful for having had the opportunity to redeem past potential and dormant dreams. I'll be writing more about that in the days ahead, but for now, I can attest to GSC's contribution toward helping me to become the person I was always meant to be.
There are so many more things for which I am thankful to Granite State College. Rather than express them all, though, I'd like to encourage you to take that step of faith, and to enroll. It is never too late to let your dream become reality.
Has anyone said to you, "So, are you going to vote next week?" What have you replied?
Maybe you said "Yeah, sure," but meant, "No way."
Maybe you said, "I would but I am busy that day."
Or maybe you said, "It's not worth it."
Have you thought about how your vote might influence the future of education? There are candidates out there who would willingly cut the funding for college scholarships, for HeadStart programs, and for every other education level in between. There are also candidates out there who want to add to federal funding for schools and colleges. Adult Education Certificates, Adult Education Diplomas and undergraduate education in New Hampshire can easily be impacted by what happens on November 2.
If you get out and vote in favor of education you will be taking part in an opportunity to improve and protect education from preschool to college. See you at the polls.
I love this season. The views of the changing colors of our trees are truly something to be seen and appreciated; no matter how many autumns one has spent in New England. Granite State College has centers throughout the state. All one has to do is travel from one Granite State College location to the other to enjoy all that New Hampshire has to offer; from the seacoast to the white mountains.
To me the fall season means it is time to go apple picking and pumpkin shopping. It means it is time to yell and cheer at soccer games and then return home and start hitting the books again. I took the summer off from my adult college program but could not wait to get back into the classroom this fall. For the fall season I opted to take weekend college classes, every other Saturday so that I could still enjoy the weaning daylight after work! For the winter season I decided to take advantage of the offered online classes for college so I can stay home in the cold weather and accomplish my schoolwork at my convenience in the warmth of my own home!
Sometimes Granite State College students just need to take a break. What better time to take a break from the studying grind than during the burst and blaze of peak season in the month of October.
Friday morning, while I made every effort to work on my Linguistics Homework 6, becoming more frustrated in the process because I could not access the online Oxford English Dictionary, no matter what method I tried, I realized I needed to pack my bags, fill up the car with gas, and drive northbound for our cabin in Maine.
Make no mistake about it! I packed one bag full of books; text books, notebooks, and the one book for my capstone project that I needed to finish by the end of the weekend. By 12:00pm on the sunniest afternoon ever with a large cup of Dunkin' Donuts ice coffee in my cup holder, I approached rte. 95 at 70 mph and never looked back.
Three hours later, when I pulled into the driveway, my husband was happy but very surprised to see me until he spied the bag full of school books in the back seat of the car. Then he knew...
Homework is more portable than ever now so don't let it be the reason why you shy away from taking classes to complete your degree through an adult learning program such as I am achieving through Granite State College.
Even though I went for a foliage ride, took a long hike in the woods with my husband, and played Rummie 500 with him in the evenings, I still completed my goal of working on my Linguistics homework as well as finishing the book for my I-search paper before I headed for home on Sunday morning at 7a.m.
Because I remembered to stop and catch my breath a bit, I rejuvenated myself for the hard work ahead of me this week.
I am up this morning, sipping on coffee and thinking about the presentation I give this afternoon at the office. I have to show the collectors what my job is as a Credit Analyst and how I determine who and when to grant credit to for a car loan.
I never liked getting up in front of people, hated it. I was shy as a youngster and in my teenage years, I was pretty much a loner. Standing up in front of a lot of people was something I just dreaded. I had a teacher/professor who taught a class called Small Group Dynamics. She gave us assignments to give presentations every week, individually as well as a small group presentation. It was one of the adult accelerated degree program classes I had taken in TN and it was accelerated class. Giving a presentation every week was the pits. Preparing by making note cards, standing in front of the mirror the night before and thinking about it all through the day until the class came that night was so unbearable at times. But, I did it and so did everyone else who had the guts to stay in the class. That class went from a roll of 20 students down to 14 students in just one week. Only the strong survive, as I told my girlfriend Doris Card. We joked about that years later saying we got through the Class from H _ _ , we can do anything!!! Doris is no longer on this earth, but my fun and fond memories of our days in school will stay with me always.
So today I have another presentation to give. I am not dreading it anymore, in fact just the opposite, I looking forward to it, I love it. I love getting up there explaining what I do to others, showing them a career path they may want to explore at some time in the future. College gave me that confidence to do so. Whether it be on-line classes from distance learning universities or from Granite State College, anyone can do it if they just stick to it. You too can be a survivor!!
"Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know." ~ Daniel J. Boorstin
I recently began my new fall courses at Granite State College, two years after making the decision to return to college and taking those tentative first steps in seeking out adult financial aid. Now, with six terms of Behavioral Science classes behind me, I'm more than halfway through my journey toward earning my Bachelors Degree.
I applied to participate in the GSC student blogger program with two intentions in mind:
To encourage those adults who are currently contemplating returning to, or even beginning, college. For years, I had given much thought to finishing what I had started all those years ago, but was held back by fear. When I finally took those steps at 40 years old, I was encouraged by a couple of blogs I'd discovered written by other non-traditional students. Had Granite State College offered this blogging program earlier, I may have decided to take those steps even sooner. Over the past several months, I've enjoyed reading the various blogs written by faculty and students, and consequently have felt more personally connected to the college, even though I live in a remote location.
To share some of my experiences over the past couple of years with others who have found themselves in a similar life situation. When I first started, I wasn't entirely sure if I would prefer taking evening college classes, where I would have face-to-face interaction with my professor and classmates, or online classes for college, in a format that would afford me a much broader range of educational choices and greater flexibility with my already busy life schedule. I'll be writing more about those experiences in coming days.
Is there anything that you have been wondering about that I may be able to answer for you? Are you longing to pursue education and career advancement, but find yourself wrestling with self-doubt? Are you wondering if there is such a thing in this economy as an affordable Bachelors degree? Are you daunted by the prospect of applying for adult financial aid?
Or, have you also made the leap, and are currently trying to juggle family, career, and school? Are you challenged with the task of optimally managing your time? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by coursework and second-guess the wisdom of your decision to take on these extra responsibilities?
I've been there. Not only that, but I am still working my way through all the dynamics of this chapter in my life. You're not alone, and I'd love to hear from you!
G.I. Jobs, a publication dedicated to helping veterans with job search and placement, has announced that Granite State College is a "military friendly school." In an article published on August 16th, GSC was among the top 15% of colleges and universities nationwide doing the most to give the opportunity of an adult college education to military and veteran students.
Highlighted in the article are that GSC does the following:
Gives ACE credits for military training and experience
Accepts credit for CLEP and DSST testing
VA approved and a recipient of Post-9/11 GI Bill financing
Has flexibility in scheduling - evening college classes, weekend college classes, and GSC is a college with online classes and degree programs.
Has Baccalaureate degree programs in cooperation with Air University associates degree
In the article, Derek Blumke, president of Student Veterans of America summarizes it best, "The Military Friendly Schools list is the gold standard in letting veterans know which schools will offer them the greatest opportunity, flexibility and overall experience."
I am very proud the Granite State College is part of the list of Military Friendly Schools. It is one way that we can give back to the brave men and women that serve this great country.
Do you have career plans? Do your plans include college education courses? Have you thought about obtaining an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree or maybe an Adult Education Certificate or an Adult Education Diploma?
Granite State College may be just what you are looking for. Did you see the September 2010 issue of "U.S. News and World Report?" It compared the best colleges in the country. One of the criteria was class size. Another was availability of the faculty. Affordability and the availability of grants and loans was another criteria. Granite State College has a low student to faculty ratio. Many courses only have 10 to 15 students in them. This allows you to really get to know your professors. The professors have a chance to get to know you as well. And, what you may not know, most Granite State professors are working in the field that they teach in. This means that what you are learning is current and what you need for your career. Granite State also has a wide range of available student financial aid. As you consider your career plans, whether you are right out of high school, or an adult interested in adult education programs, consider Granite State College.
Although I love having the summers off, I must say I have enjoyed my first few weeks back to work at Granite State College. I have missed all the wonderful staff and amazing students! It was as if I never left three months ago and in fact I never really did. Granite State College is such an important part of my life it never leaves me. I am proud to share, with everyone, that I work for such a wonderful and important Adult College Program. I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead with an amazing new President and a beautiful new Rochester NH College (Grand Opening coming up on Sept 30th - come see our wonderful space).
I am definitely back in the swing of things and will be traveling around the seacoast area meeting with new students, connecting with communities and spreading all the good words about Granite State College.
I would be happy to come and visit any organization, school or business and share more about our Center of Adult Education!
I attended a workshop last week held by the Department of Education in Concord. It addressed the difficulties for adult learners (adult high school, GED, etc.) transitioning to college, and how we (adult ed facilities and colleges) can make the transition less tangled. It was a great workshop and I learned a lot about adult learners. One of the activities we did was take the LASSI test, Learning and Study Strategies Inventory. It evaluates a student's current habits and thinking and is designed to bring to light areas in which he or she is likely to run into trouble. The one area I completely tanked was the Study Aids area--I hated to ask for help when I was a student. Thinking about this flaw in my character led me to another online test--the Jung Myers-Briggs personality test. Turns out I am ISFJ, which stands for introverted sensing feeling judging. I disagree with the experts that say this means I have a good memory and unexpected analytic ability (if only), though it is true that I have few close friends and like to serve others. Overall, I was not too excited about the test results. I was hoping for something more mystical and esoteric (which is completely normal for us ISFJs).
I am kinda glad that I didn't take these tests as an incoming student (some NH colleges and adult education programs have their students take LASSI). They would have made me cranky. When I started college I was trying to figure out the finals parts of who I was and how to meet the goals I had made. It would have been too much to also contemplate what I should do about my low score in information processing, or ponder the ramifications of my need to be needed. I think there is a point where the learning just has to come from doing. Most Granite State College students are already A+ students in learning by doing. They have been learning this way on their feet in the workplace for years. This is a skill very hard to learn at a traditional college, but one that is so necessary. Forget the online testing--we're all learning about who we are as we go along, and if we're smart (like GSC students!) we take the phrase "lifelong learner" literally, not only in terms of book smarts but in terms of self-smarts.
I was thinking about work today as our the Diversity Committee wanted us to come up with a poem on diversity. I will work on it tomorrow but it got me thinking about diversity in many aspects. I first thought about all the different states I have lived in - boy I had to be diverse for that. Moving from Michigan to TN, Tennessee to FL, Florida back to TN, Tennessee to NH and New Hampshire to SC...was like going in a full circle many many times. Each place of residence had its uniqueness and qualities to be admired. I never in a hundred years would have thought I would like country music, but I did after living just a few minutes away from Music City Nashville. Never would I have thought I would love the New England states, but I did and wish I was there again even in the snow. And in the midst of it all, I went to school. From one school to the next. Guess I was diverse too when I found Granite State College and then again when I had to take my classes through an online adult program that the college offered.
Diversity is part of all our lives in so many ways. Diversity took place for me at many times in my life. When I got divorced and was raising four children on my own, another time when I was relocated and sought out an Adult College Curriculum. Another, when I was moved again and needed online college classes. Cultural changes that occurred were an adventure to explore in each individual state, never mind location and what the weather had to offered was so different in each state. Changes happen in peoples lives and sometimes we are forced to change.
Changes in location, changes in lifestyle or changes financially. That change could very well be getting an adult education degree either online or in the classroom setting. Nevertheless, it makes us diverse. Change is inevitable it is what we do with the changes and how we approach these changes that count. I always chose to accept them and go with the flow. Having that frame of mind has made me a very mellow person and open minded to changes in life and at work; I think people call it, "thinking outside the box." Companies look for people who can think outside the box; I gained some of that from Granite State College in many classes, I think it is called critical thinking. I like critical thinking now and use it every day of my life.
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