perspective from the perpetual student

Online classes are not my favorite method of learning, but I have to say that for parents of young children they make a lot of sense. It’s hard enough going back to school when your kids are small without the added expense of a babysitter. My daughter-in-law is a student at Granite State College and when she has a class, my son is home with the kids (they have three, ages 3 months, 2 and 3 ½). The reason she likes the online classes is that she can write her papers or post to the class online anytime of the day or night. In fact she is becoming quite good at multi-tasking.

When she sits down with her laptop to do her homework the two girls snuggle up, one on each side, she tucks the baby in one arm so she can feed him while she types with the other hand--talk about a hand full! My daughter-in-law has been working very hard to complete her degree over the last two years, and despite taking care of two toddlers and giving birth to a new baby this spring she is still managing to do very well at Granite State, even ending up on the Dean’s List. I am so proud of her!

We recently took the same science class (Sustainable Gardening) and she managed to help prepare and plant the garden, participate in the class field trips which involved slogging across muddy fields, over hill and dale while touring local orchards and greenhouses, and completed the class with only a few days off to have the baby - who by the way joined us for the last field trip. I’m not sure that would have been possible at any other school. I have found the professors at Granite State College to be special people who are flexible and encouraging and respectful of the challenges faced by their students.

So if you need a flexible schedule check out the online and hybrid classes offered at Granite State College.  I personally prefer the hybrid classes where part of the course is face to face and part is online - I like the face to face interaction and still have the convenience of being able to go online 24/7 to post my work.

That is the best aspect of the Granite State College experience, it works for just about everyone. If you think your schedule is too full to fit in a class or two a semester you may find that it will work out if you take an online class.

If you are a parent, single or otherwise going back to school is the best way to make a better life for you and your family. And Granite State has many options to offer the student with a family a job and a busy life.