Page 2 - College Evening Classes | Granite State College

Are you a perfectionist?

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 by Beth Benoit

A new book coming out, called Better by Mistake: The Unexpected Benefits of Being Wrong, by Alina Tugend, looks very interesting. An article about it in The New York Times describes how making mistakes might be "psychologically healthy."

Teaching psychology classes at Granite State College makes my ears always perk up when I even hear the word "psychology." (There's a similar effect that describes how we are likely to hear our own name, even when in a noisy crowd and no one else heard it. It's called "the cocktail party effect." Social psychology has a million of those cool ideas!)

So back to Tugend's book. She points out that the important difference for those with perfectionist tendencies between a psychologically healthy perfectionism and an unhealthy one is whether those tendencies "rule - or ruin - their lives." An example she gives is a person she describes who likes all the glasses in his cupboard lined up in a certain way. If anyone puts them in a different order, he doesn't freak out. And he doesn't expect to be perfect in everything he does.

I see tendencies like this in my adult students sometimes. Students in my adult online classes have to write papers, and when I carefully correct any errors, I sometimes get an anguished response that they "can't believe they made that mistake." I try to remind them that that's what being a student is. It involves learning, not being perfect to begin with!

So don't think of mistakes as "nasty secrets." Think of all the learning you can be doing if you don't demand perfection from the beginning. At Granite State College, we'll give you the best we have to offer and you may just end up feeling close to perfect!

Raining here in Michigan

Saturday, May 14, 2011 by Gail Gifford

It is another rainy day in Michigan this morning. I am sitting at Panara Bread on Michigan Avenue and just reading about this restaurant. It is a different kind of Panara Bread, it is one of three non-profit ones. You order your food and they give you the estimated amount for a contribution. They only give change and you drop your contribution in a box in front of the register. I just think this is such a good cause with so many people out of work here in Michigan, what a great way to help others. I am going to try to come in often and contribute as I don't want it to close, we need good places like this.

I am not sure if any of these located near the Concord New Hampshire college campus. It would be a great place for one though with people going to their evening adult college classes after work, they would surely get the business when classes let out.

Well, I faxed an offer on a house today. This is the first time in my life I have ever wrote a check to pay cash for it. It will be mine, all mine and I will have the title to the property; man that is going to feel good. It is a small home, only two bedrooms, only 800 sq feet but it is only me, the kids are grown and why do I need anything bigger? I don't!!

Got to run...have a good day, I hope it isn't raining on all of you.

Priceless

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 by Danielle Dodd

I have been thinking about the value of a dollar recently. I remember when I was younger I thought I was rich when I had $100 to my name. I was king of the world and I could buy anything I wanted. Well those days are completely gone (I just got my first cable bill and it was $200!?).

I may not be able to make $100 go as far as I use to, but I am happy with the money I have been putting into my Bachelor’s of Science degree from Granite State College. After a lot of research, I learned that Granite State College offers the least expensive Bachelor’s degree in the entire state of New Hampshire!

That coupled with the small class sizes and more individualized attention that I receive from staff and instructors (staff at the campuses know most of their students names!!!), I am very happy with my choice to return to school to pursue my adult college degree.

Did you know that most of the Instructors here teach as a second job? That means that they actually LOVE to do what they do here. Why else would you take on another job? Instructors here actually take the time to know you as an individual, not just another student in their class. I remember taking a Psychology class at one of the local community colleges and I was one of 35 people in the class. The instructor did not know who I was and did not know I was even a part of his class when I raised my hand.

Here, at Granite State College, I am Danielle Dodd, a student, a worker and a mother. My instructors take the time to ask me about my day, about my son, and to make sure that I understand the work. They take the time out of their busy schedules so that if I am having an issue understanding something, they can meet with me at a time that is convenient for ME, not just offer a time that is convenient for them. Not only that, but the instructors here have full time jobs in their field of study. We have management instructors who are entrepreneurs, Early Childhood Education instructors who have child care centers. We have other instructors who are lawyers and have their doctorates! We are learning from people who not only have the book smarts, but have firsthand knowledge of how the field that we want to enter works! Honestly, I couldn’t ask for a better adult college education.

It’s exactly like those credit card commercials that always play:

School books: $100.

School supplies: $40.

The unique education and opportunities received: Priceless

So convenient it's silly!

Sunday, May 8, 2011 by Danielle Dodd

I just moved into a new neighborhood recently where it seems everyone on my block goes to some local community college. Funny enough, that school is where both my fiancé and I had originally started out. We started to talk about how it's not a good school for someone who has to work and pay bills, because there were times when he had to choose whether to go to class or work and pay bills so he would not be evicted. "Try working, being a mom, paying bills, and going to school!" I had to laugh a little in relief that I don't have to deal with that! I don't have to decide if school is more important than working and paying bills, because with Granite State College I can take all of my courses online so that I can conveniently have a life and get a degree at the same time!

My son got a virus last weekend, and directly after that I got a severe sinus infection followed up with Bronchitis, (when I go for something, I go all or nothing! LOL!). I was horrifyingly ill, not able to speak for days on end. It was nothing I had to worry about, though, because with online classes for adults, there is no need to attend a class outside of my home. I can sit in my pajamas, hair a mess, a red nose from all my sneezing, and still attend class! When I had my appointment on Friday, and then had to wait what seamed like FOREVER for my prescription, I did not have to worry about not being able to attend class, and how it would affect my grade. When you attend online classes for college through Granite State College, if you can't find the time to do class work on Friday, you can do it on Thursday or even Saturday! It's really a life saver! And I don't even have to worry about attending class with a runny nose!

If You're Happy and You Know It....

Friday, April 29, 2011 by Beth Benoit

Remember that children's song? Well, if you live in Somerville, Massachusetts, you don't have to clap your hands to show that you're happy. Somerville (for those who aren't from New England, it sounds like "Summerville") officials, led by its major, Joseph A. Curtatone, thought it would be a good idea because they wanted to see whether projects like parks and bike paths have an effect on the happiness of people in the town.

This is the kind of project that's perfect for a social psychology class. (We have them online for adult education here at Granite State College.)

Even learning how to put together a survey is an important skill. We read all the time about how "surveys show" and "statistics show," but it helps to know that how you phrase a question can influence the answer you get.

Oh, and did you know that Somerville is where Marshmallow Fluff was invented???

Easter Joy...

Monday, April 25, 2011 by Gail Gifford

What a lovely Easter Sunday as I attended the church I grew up in. It brought back lots of fond memories and the hymns that were sung, just reassured me that, nothing has really changed. Twenty-three years later, I sat and enjoyed coffee with old friends and made a few new friends. It was a beautiful day. It was not as warm as I have known my Easters in the past, but it was nice. The daffodils were blooming in Michigan and I heard from three of my children. I even met a lady who has a knitting class on Monday nights that just caught my attention as I have always wanted to learn to knit. I think I will join this group and learn all about it. I wish my friend from Granite State College could come with me as we both have grandchildren to knit for. But, she is up in the great state of New Hampshire enjoying all the great things the state has to offer. I will tell her all about it once I start my new knitting class and will probably send her something at some point.

I hope you all had a great Easter and enjoy your family and friends. Friends and Family is what it is all about. I have made so many friends throughout my life. One of my best friends I made when I enrolled in Granite State College to get my adult education degree. We are still friends today and will always remain close friends even thought there are hundreds of miles between us.

Michigan

Thursday, April 21, 2011 by Gail Gifford

Michigan is where I find myself these days after twenty-three years of being moved around, from TN, NH, FL and SC, I am back home. Michigan is where I was raised and even though the town has changed, it still feels good to me. I miss my kids so much but they are scattered all over the US and there are flights to each town where they reside. I certainly have lots of places to visit. I will end up in the south, I think but for now, I am so happy to be in Michigan.

My cat is staying with my old friend until I find a home. I miss her so much, she is part of my life now the that the kids are all grown. So looking for a new home is the first thing on the agenda.

Work is going well. I am sure it was my adult college degree that got me the promotion to my new job. I am so glad I made that commitment to go to school at Granite State College, even though I was older when I started an adult college program. It is still the best thing I have ever done for myself. It was proven with this job promotion that all that studying has paid off!

High School VS College

Saturday, April 2, 2011 by Maria Bauer

A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend from high school. A few days after that encounter, I ran into another friend from high school. It's always amazing how you feel when you run into old friends. There are some people you get very excited to see, and others you get this feeling in the pit of your stomach and in all honesty, you may try to dodge them from seeing you. For most people that I have met (post high school) it's a time in their life they want to forget. And seeing someone from your past can bring up some uneasy feelings that you thought you had buried.

The reason I bring this up is because seeing two of these people (one from each 'category'), I began to run through in my head what high school was like for me. I tried to remember my teachers, how they taught, the environment, etc. A lot of my high school teachers were very strict about assignments and due dates and making sure they made NO exceptions, because they were trying to prepare us for the "real world" and for college.

Because of how we were being "prepared", I didn't want to go to college anymore. Of course I had ambitions and I DID want to go to college, but I was expecting that it would not be the experience I had always dreamed it would be. Not after those experiences...

I may not be where I thought I would be when I was 16, but I'm happy to see where I am today. I'm in college, and in a short number of years I will have obtained two adult education diplomas. The exact same outcome as if I had gone off to college right after graduation.

The differences between high school and Granite State College are numerous! In high school you can become invisible. Very few people know your name, interests, etc. At this Concord, NH college campus, you walk in the front door and you are greeted by your first name! (Side note: I mention Granite State College's Concord, NH college campus because it's my "home base." I go there a great deal, even though I take classes sometimes at the Manchester, NH college campus).

In high school, no exceptions were made; here at GSC, teachers will work with you and they understand that life happens. Many students who I have taken classes with have demanding jobs and/or children.

These adult accelerated degree programs are very different from high school. Of course there are always exceptions, but my guess is that these programs work because everyone there has the same goal: to make life better for us. That includes fellow students, and it also includes the faculty. Hazing and bullying don't go on at college (or at least this one). This is the one place you will always look back on as a positive experience. It's a second chance for people (or third, or fourth...).

In many years down the road you run into someone who you went to college with, there will be no uneasy feelings; you'll finally have an educational experience you are more than happy to revisit.

The moral of this story: don't let your past experiences hold you back from really living your life. It's always the time to create some new experiences, and you know you'll be better off for it.

Life After High School

Friday, April 1, 2011 by Bette Papa

I recently attended the 2011 College Access Showcase sponsored by Campus Compact for NH and NHCUC. One of the workshops I attended was with John T. Kirkpatrick, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts, UNH. A dynamic and engaging speaker, John spoke about his experience as Dean and the challenges that new college students encounter. While his focus was on the traditional aged student in the New Hampshire university system, he made some great points that are appropriate for all of us.

The purpose of higher education is more than just filling students with information. It should not only develop the intellect but also the heart, character, integrity and judgment and how to use all of this wisely. We want students to become productive and useful citizens contributing to society in a meaningful way. Intellect needs to be balanced with innovation and creativity.

Look at any job search website and you will find lists of qualities that employees are looking for. Apart from skills in the profession, employers want people who have reasoning skills and the ability to problem solve. Communication skills, both written and oral, are crucial. Understanding of human behavior is important to be able to work well with others. Having an historical consciousness to have that understanding of how we got where we are today.

As I listened to John talk I realized this makes a good argument to the complaint "Do I have to take these gen eds?" Yes, you do! Those classes help to develop skills apart from those specific to your field of study. They help you to learn about yourself, others and the world around you.

Granite State College offers a great variety of general education electives that I encourage students to take advantage of. Whether students are looking for online classes for adults or evening college classes there are plenty of classes to choose from that will help develop their creativity, intellect, and compassion.

Those who paved theway

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 by Marta Smith

I just realized the other day - I am not the first generation of non-traditional learners.

I know it seems like this midlife, adult education program is brand new, but actually it isn't. I vaguely remember my mother dusting off her books and heading back to school when my youngest sister was about 6. I always thought she did it to get away from my sister, but I may be projecting! Anyway, my mother got her teaching degree beforer she married my father and after they were married they moved around quite a bit. After awhile I was born, then sister number 1 and sister number 2, and my mother became a stay-at-home mom. She may have worked a few part-time jobs over the years, but mostly she stayed home. When my youngest sister went to school, my mother went back to school, taking college evening classes and others, to renew her teaching certificate.

As I was reading the obituary of an older friend who recently passed away, I realized that she had also taken time off to raise her kids and then gone back to school to finish her degree, and then she went on to teach at the local high school. She raised successful children who went on to prestigious colleges and then highly successful careers and then she went back to teach other children how to be successful in life.
So, my point is they are the ones who paved the way for us. It wasn't as easy for them to go back to school and to pursue adult education and training as it is for us. There was less help with tuition and very few places to go and less flexible class schedules. We are so much luckier than those who went before.

Realtors and temp living arrangments??!!

Saturday, March 19, 2011 by Gail Gifford

Here it is, Saturday morning and I have been up since 6am, waiting for the Realtor to come and tell me what my house/home is worth. If any of you have moved, you know the hassle it can be. The trashing of stuff you have toted from one residence to another that you never even unpacked after four or five years. That is what I am finding to be true in my case. There are boxes that left Michigan twenty-three years ago. I trashed a few when I left Tennessee seven years ago and I have taken some of them to New Hampshire, South Carolina and now wondering if I need to take them back Michigan once again. Why? Why do we save these trinkets and trash? I even move the rocks that lined the street my grandparents cottage was on. I think it is just the sentimental part of us, or at least me. I take them as they were happy memories, the past and somewhere deep inside, I care about them and what they represent. Therefore, I have trashed some and others will get loaded on the truck and taken to Michigan and who knows where else they may travel too.

I went through my school papers and books from Granite State College while in the attic the other day. I got rid of some of the papers I had written but, some I saved. I saved them because I remember the hard work I put into my adult college classes. The research the study groups I was part of and the endless hours I spent figuring out my math problems for business statistics. So, I kept them so some day I will show them to my grand-kids what their Grammy did in life and how they can do it too. Distance learning universities are out there, Granite State College was my salvation since I moved so much. I just kept on going doing on-line classes either from home, the book store or sitting at Panara Bread having a bagel on Sunday Afternoon.

I am rambling and I really need to run the vacuum. I will let you know how it all pans out..Guess I will have to buy a shovel this next winter. YUK!!

3 weeks left!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by Maria Bauer

The end of the term is approaching fast. I have taken my first 5 week intensive online class. This (of course) is held the last 5 weeks of the term: which is the same time I have major research papers due in my other classes. It's a different type of experience. What's great is that adult education classes have the correct forum to try new things. Everything you do, every class you take will help you in your future endeavors. And everyone is traveling down the same road you are.

I am currently in this place where even though there are only 3 more weeks of classes, I know that time is going to fly by, however it feels like the days are never ending. This is the time when papers are due, quizzes are there to finish, etc. Outside of school, things have seemed to pile up and everything has now been officially moved to "#1 priority" which need to be done yesterday.

Life does this to you. These moments help define who you are as a person. I cannot even begin to tell you how many strong people I have met that will repeatedly stand up to the challenge. It's at these home stretches where you either "break" or walk against the wind "fight or flight."

I am a person who reflects...a lot! I was thinking about my first weekend intensive class I had at the Concord NH college campus here at Granite State College; not so much about the class itself but the atmosphere of it all. It was a very comfortable place for me. Not only was the class itself filled with information, but what was happening around us. Our class was constantly laughing - so much we had to shut the doors. The best part about it: we weren't the only ones! There were Foster Parent Classes right down the hall. Whatever you were there for, everyone seemed to have a glowing aura.

Career College Training is a resource that has become more easily accessible. From 4 year colleges, to strictly online classes, to adult accelerated degree programs (or even adult education certificates) which can be completed during day and/or night classes: there is something for you out there!

How does this relate with this being the end of the term for me? It's because I have been put in a position where I need to pick myself up off the ground, dust myself off, and get ready to fight for the next 3 weeks. These 3 weeks will be a test and I can guarantee you I will learn more about who I am as a person. Every experience, new or repeated, will help push us to where we would like to see ourselves. Hard work pays off: although I wouldn't mind having a personal genie at times :)

No Age Limit on Learning

Thursday, March 10, 2011 by Marta Smith

I lost a friend today; she passed away this morning from cancer. I have been thinking about her a lot this afternoon. She had many wonderful qualities. She was smart and funny and stubborn and very independent and very strong as well.

She took the news about her cancer pretty well, but she wasn't one to complain about things. She grew up in a time when complaining was not allowed. She was a member of the "Greatest Generation" and had the strength of character to show it.

I thought of her as a mentor in many ways, not the least being her addiction to using her brain and keeping it young. She was 85 years old and still as sharp as ever. She read incessantly and took classes whenever possible. She was still driving to Dartmouth and Colby Sawyer to take enrichment courses and she had recently become involved in the OLLI program that is starting up in Claremont this spring. In fact, her illness is why she had to give up working on the committee.

One of the most amazing things about her is how much she cared about education and the impact it could have on the community. She was so proud when Granite State College opened up on Pleasant Street in Claremont. She was a former English teacher and she taught back when a teacher's salary was even more pitiful than it is today, but she never complained about it. She taught me many things, but the most important was that no matter how old you were you could still learn something new. I think the older you are the more you appreciate the importance of education.

Every time I sign up for adult college classes or take advantage of an educational opportunity I will think of my friend and her philosophy about education.

Getting "dooced" at Granite State College

Sunday, February 27, 2011 by Beth Benoit

I'm reading an interesting article about blogging in a New York Times Magazine article, entitled "Mommy-Bloggest." (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/magazine/27armstrong-t.html)

Talk about inspiration! She typically has 100,000 visitors to her site, Dooce.com, "where she writes about her kids, her husband, her pets, her treatment for depression and her life as a liberal ex-Mormon living in Utah." Oh, and her site brings in an estimated $30,000 to $50,000 a month or more.

I don't know how many visitors I get to my blogging site for Granite State College, but while I promise I won't be writing about my recalcitrant Maytag washer or the exciting act of changing my newest granddaughter's diaper, I do hope I get across how exciting and challenging it is to teach at Granite State College though.

My students are always introducing me to new ways of looking at things. (I used to think that was my job, but now I understand how these things work both ways!)

In my online social psychology class, we've been discussing the concept of "group influence." Ah! Bullying and cliques! There are two relevant concepts. For several days students recounted the usually painful stories of bullying in school and cliques in middle and high school. Then one of the students pointed out that there are all kinds of cliques. Even being in an online class is a clique. Good point! And I suspect that those of us in this online class feel we're the Cool Kids.

If only it were that easy to raise your self-esteem! But one thing I've heard over and over from students when they get their diplomas: They're so proud of themselves and so glad they took that first step and tried their first class.

So of course, I have my fingers crossed that my blogs, though they don't seem to be bringing in those mega-thousands that Heather Hamilton is accruing, will get out the message that you can change your life by getting a college education. And you can do it all online (at least at Granite State College you can!). And of course, you can also become a Cool Kid.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Sunday, February 27, 2011 by Deidre Romeo

Today was an exhausting Saturday which included the open house of a friend’s Tae Kwon Do studio and a birthday party of another friend. I came home, collapsed on the sofa and turned on the TV to sit back and relax for the evening. WCVB was showing The Pursuit of Happyness; what a great, inspirational movie. The movie was based on the real-life experiences of Chris Gardner. Mr. Gardner began his pursuit of “happyness” as an unpaid intern at Dean Witter. I began mine as a student at Granite State College, enrolling in adult college classes. I was never homeless and have yet to make it to the status of a “millionaire” so it is doubtful a movie will be made of my personal pursuit but nonetheless, I have achieved my own “happyness” through my academic accomplishments.

What are you pursuing? What changes are needed to find your own personal “happyness?”

Snow, Snow, Everwhere Snow

Friday, February 25, 2011 by Marta Smith

I was so happy the other day when my Burpees seed catalog came in the mail. Aha! Spring is almost here - it must be since I got the catalog. Imagine my disappointment when I went outside this morning to go to work. As I stood there in about 6 inches of snow, I saw my dreams of an early spring drifting away like a snowflake on the wind.

I slogged through the snow and cleaned about a foot of snow off the roof and windshield and back of the car, started it up and waited for the ice to melt. My hair was dripping frozen ice down my back and my feet were already wet and I hadn't even left the driveway.When I got to work I had to trudge through another 6 inches of snow because of course we hadn't been plowed out yet.

Finally, I was at my desk, a little warmer and dryer and I was doing my favorite thing - checking in new books. One of the first books I opened up was a new gardening book. It had bright colorful pictures, lots of flowers and vegetables in containers and raised beds and neatly tilled garden beds. I daydreamed about the vegetables and flowers I might grow this year, if spring ever comes!

I remembered last year when I planted a garden for the first time in about 20 years, I was inspired to take the Sustainable Gardening class offered as part of the adult continuing education programs at Granite State College. It was taught by Henry Homeyer from Cornish and I learned so much. I noticed that he will be teaching it again this spring, at the Lebanon NH college campus, this time - I think.

If you like to garden, or want to know more about sustainable gardening or just want to get closer to spring check out his class. It was great, we visited several vegetable and fruit farms in the early spring, planned our garden plots and started seeds inside - it gave us something green to watch as the last of the snow disappeared. And, if the snow is depressing you as much as it is me, I recommend stopping into your local library and checking out a few gardening books and start planning your own garden, or dreaming about it anyway, maybe you could sign up for the Sustainable Gardening class if it's been a while and you need a few pointers.

Keep the faith - spring is just around the corner - I think.

Fit, fit and fitting it all in

Thursday, February 24, 2011 by Tom Oetinger

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)

A Busy Week

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by Gail Gifford

I have got a week ahead of me that would make anyone's head spin. I am so thankful for my good friend in New Hampshire that I met in my Economics Class at Granite State College. We took many classes together even weekend college classes (called "weekend intensives") over at the Portsmouth NH college campus. We had fun together, learning and experiencing college life. She has been there for me when I needed to vent this week. I have my daughters shower on Sunday and I am so excited about it but as everyone knows, it is a lot of work and planning. Of course my 40-hour work week is still part of my life while I am trying to cram in all the other "stuff" I need to do. My daughter's happiness is so important to me and I really want it to be a happy time in her life and our life. I am going to do the best to make her shower a happy one and memorable one. Memories are good, good for the soul. I have many fond memories, not only of my daughter growing up through the years but also of my time at college. Good times!!

It's A New Semester, Are You Ready?

Thursday, February 17, 2011 by Ellen Gagnon

     We all have our issues, and life has a way of making sure we keep on our toes too but that doesn't mean my issues need to be my obstacles. Even if your college legs are not yet under you and you are still a little unsure, you can make a difference in your outcomes by creating your own road map to help ensure your success.

     Talk to your Advisor; you are not re-inventing the wheel here. You are an adult going back to school, pursuing adult higher education. It's been done before so there are things you need to know. That's why Granite State College makes your first appointment with an Advisor.

     Listen to what your Advisor tells you. Then do what they tell you.

     Balance the ugly with the pretty -- this is something you don't realize at first blush. Part of my thinking went like this, "I'm 40+ years old and I haven't got time for basket weaving, so I am piling up my courses, because I'm older and wiser." The reality is that I needed time for the learning to sink in. Maybe you have to power through to get your degree, but at least remember that learning is not just a task to cross off a list. It is an experience in and of itself.

     Breathe--'nough said.

     Bite the bullet -- how ever you need to do it, role your sleeves up and get the job done. Have I told you to call your advisor yet? I will not lie to you, because that will waste my time and yours. Sometimes they are going to tell you to "put your big girl pants on and get it done", though not as succinctly as that. You're in college now you'll recognize it when you hear it.

     Get ready early -- Get your books. Make sure your computer is in good shape. Sharpen the pencils and buy new pens. Try not to leave registering for classes until the last day of the Add/Drop deadline. Know your professor's contact information.   Plan your snacks, (seriously, if your blood sugar is low after a long day at work and the professor turns the lights out to start a video at 8PM, you will miss the video because you are fighting to stay awake.)

     Make connections - get together with other students before class or over the weekend. This helps me keep my "Negative Nancy-speak" at bay. When I can share with other students in adult education courses, the learning is more enduring. Check out the GSC Online Library Make sure you connect with your professor too, let them know where you might need help. Check in with your center's Academic Resource Center to help you brush up your skills.

     Know what the end result should look like. I like pictures, so I picture myself crossing off assignments on my syllabus as they are completed, or handing in my final assignments. But the most important picture I keep is the one with me in my cap and gown on graduation day.

Myths about College Students

Monday, February 7, 2011 by Marta Smith

There are many myths about adult education colleges that keep people from applying:

1. College is only for the young. Wrong! In fact, the average college student is 27 years old. Actually many college students are more than 27 years old - age doesn't have much to do with the ability to learn, and many older students are more focused and ready to learn.

2. College is only for very smart people. Actually, many college students are of average intelligence. Why would you go to college if you already knew everything there was to know?

3. College is only for rich people. Not true. There are many ways to pay for college, including scholarships, student loans and grants. Most of the money has to be repaid, but some of it does not.

4. College is only for people who know what they want to be. Actually, college is the perfect place to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. You will find plenty of opportunities to explore.

5. College professors are less patient and understanding of older students. Not True! Many of them actually prefer older students because they are often more focused on learning and more prepared. But, professors are also understanding of the fact that many of the older students have families and jobs to juggle with the school schedule.

6. College is only for people who have a lot of free time. Actually many colleges, including Granite State College, are so flexible with their schedule that students can work around jobs, families and other commitments.

There are many other fallacies about adult college classes and many reasons you can come up with not to enroll, but any reason you might have for thinking you can't fit college into your life is easily overcome. Granite State College offers evening classes, online adult education classes and Hybrid classes which combine online and face-to-face classes. Just two classes a semester makes you a full-time student and it doesn't take long to complete your degree.

I have never found any of the professors to be impatient or condescending to the older student, in fact they are all very supportive. The advisors are very helpful in creating a game plan for you to attain your goal and in some cases you can even take the CLEP test to get the credit you need in certain classes. Of course, that takes the fun out of it for me. I prefer to actually take the classes, but it is a way to save on tuition and attain your goal that much sooner.

I have to say that most of my classes were a diverse mix of students, but more of them were over 30 than under 30, and the younger students were also very supportive and added a different viewpoint to the classes. When I recently took a class in Issues in Women's Health, it was a very mixed group - one man, three women in their early twenties, three middle-aged women and one who was over 60. It was great we had women at every stage of life, from childbearing age through menopause and beyond, plus the male take on all of the stages. It made for an interesting class.

Most of the classes I have taken at Granite State College have offered that kind of interaction. I have participated in some enlightening and valuable discussions throughout the years at GSC. The diverse ages and backgrounds of the students offer a unique opportunity for learning.