Ramblings of a Lifelong Student

I’m Heather. I’ve never been able to stick to anything. Not for very long, anyway. Seriously. Look around. There are so many interesting things to discover and explore, who can really pick just one? I’m enamored by just about anything that can be thought about or figured out. However, I have this counterproductive habit of abandoning one thing for the interesting new thing. So it’s no wonder I’ve had a hard time finishing anything… But, believe it or not, after being at Granite State College for almost seven years, I am finally graduating in June 2010 with a bachelors of science in Social Justice. The thought of it practically bowls me over! True to form, I’ve been so many things here at GSC – a student, an advocate, a Customer Service Rep, a Student Rep to the USNH Board of Trustees, a member of the Outreach team, a Recruiter, and as many know me, a work-study student for Manchester and Concord. And, soon, amazingly, I will be a graduate, an alumnus.

 

I was 29 when I first arrived on the doorstop of what was then the College for Lifelong Learning, and was generally dissatisfied with my performance in life to date. It wasn’t that I hadn’t had successes or a good time – I certainly had a lot of both. I had traveled all over the world and the country, experienced and seen many things. I kissed the Blarney Stone, swam with dolphins, had my poetry published. No, it wasn’t that; it was this constant presence, a persistent, nagging awareness that there was so much more of me to find out, to challenge, expand, and be.

 

So, I went for it and found some things out about myself that truly surprised me. That was the first surprise – that there are things about yourself that will surprise you. Notably, I can’t act. Not even a little, which was quite a shocker. But, I can paint! I can dissect a spiny dogfish shark without throwing up, make a movie, and discuss such topics as the combustibility of certain woodland conifers, or the cultural characteristics of 18^th century Highland Scots. And that’s just it. Sure, I’m much better at Trivial Pursuit than I ever was, but the truth is I’m much better at being me. College flings open the doors to your world and your self, and more than anything, expands the possibilities. It’s been such an amazing journey so far, and it’s only just begun! The possibilities are endless.

I am all about sharing my amazing journey with you and letting you in on some of the things I've learned along the way. So check out my blog when you want to read about things like, "How to Dazzle Your Professor in an Online Class," "Surviving Acting Class Even Though  You Can't Act," and "Top 5 Must-Have Snack Items for a Weekend Intensive." The fact that you're even reading this right now is the beginning of your own journey. I say, go for it!