There are too many reasons it won't work in my life. There too many obstacles preventing me from going to college. It's impossible.
These were the messages running through my head as a random stranger was telling me about Granite State College, actually suggesting that it was possible for me after all.
"No, no, no," I said, shaking my head. I was convinced that this woman had no idea what I was really up against.
Then she explained that Granite State College is a non-traditional school that specializes in education for adults. "You'll be with many other adults in similar situations to your own. There are a lot of people now who don't go to college directly out of high school, people who take time off and then decide to return to school years later. People like you go to Granite State College. Not only will you be able to relate to your fellow students, the experience of learning with people of all ages is incredible. You get to learn about so many other perspectives. It's great."
I said, "I don't know how I could possibly fit it into my life. I don't have enough time to go to college."
So she started telling me about all of the course options that Granite State College offers. "They have a lot of evening college classes that only meet once a week." I thought about it. I could afford to spend one night a week away from home. And it wouldn't interfere with my job.
She told me that they offer a ton of online classes for adults. I realized that if I could take college classes online, I'd be able to work on the courses after my daughter went to bed for the night-- no childcare necessary, I'd have the flexibility to fit it into my hectic schedule, and I could even "go to school" in my pajamas!
She explained that Granite State College even offers weekend college classes and concentrated courses called "weekend intensives." I could earn credits toward a degree over the course of one weekend!
"Still," I persisted. "I'd need financial aid and I just can't handle a full-time college work load."
Then she told me a key piece of information that dramatically shifted my doubts about my college possibilities. At Granite State College, one 4-credit course a semester is all I'd need to take in order to qualify for financial aid.
After that conversation, there was a new statement that ran through my head:
Maybe, just maybe, there is a way that I can actually go to college.
-It's embarrassing to be an adult on a college campus. It's embarrassing to sit in a classroom surrounded by "college-aged" kids. I'll feel like a freak.
-I don't know how to relate to fresh-out-of-high-school students now that I've been out in the world and on my own for several years.
-I have a full-time job. I have a child. I don't have time to take classes.
-I can't take days off from work to spend my days in school.
-College is expensive. How will I possibly be able to afford it?
-Even if I apply for financial aid, I won't qualify unless I'm a full-time student taking multiple courses a semester, and I know I can't fit that workload into my already full life.
-Being a divorced, single parent of a small child, I don't want to spend more time away from my daughter than I already have to.
-I can't take days off from work to spend my days in school.
-College is expensive. How will I possibly be able to afford it?
-Even if I apply for financial aid, I won't qualify unless I'm a full-time student taking multiple courses a semester, and I know I can't fit that workload into my already full life.
-Being a divorced, single parent of a small child, I don't want to spend more time away from my daughter than I already have to.
These were the messages running through my head as a random stranger was telling me about Granite State College, actually suggesting that it was possible for me after all.
"No, no, no," I said, shaking my head. I was convinced that this woman had no idea what I was really up against.
Then she explained that Granite State College is a non-traditional school that specializes in education for adults. "You'll be with many other adults in similar situations to your own. There are a lot of people now who don't go to college directly out of high school, people who take time off and then decide to return to school years later. People like you go to Granite State College. Not only will you be able to relate to your fellow students, the experience of learning with people of all ages is incredible. You get to learn about so many other perspectives. It's great."
I said, "I don't know how I could possibly fit it into my life. I don't have enough time to go to college."
So she started telling me about all of the course options that Granite State College offers. "They have a lot of evening college classes that only meet once a week." I thought about it. I could afford to spend one night a week away from home. And it wouldn't interfere with my job.
She told me that they offer a ton of online classes for adults. I realized that if I could take college classes online, I'd be able to work on the courses after my daughter went to bed for the night-- no childcare necessary, I'd have the flexibility to fit it into my hectic schedule, and I could even "go to school" in my pajamas!
She explained that Granite State College even offers weekend college classes and concentrated courses called "weekend intensives." I could earn credits toward a degree over the course of one weekend!
"Still," I persisted. "I'd need financial aid and I just can't handle a full-time college work load."
Then she told me a key piece of information that dramatically shifted my doubts about my college possibilities. At Granite State College, one 4-credit course a semester is all I'd need to take in order to qualify for financial aid.
After that conversation, there was a new statement that ran through my head:
Maybe, just maybe, there is a way that I can actually go to college.
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