Trials and triumphs of a middle aged student

At Granite State College you will find students who each have their own agenda, timeline and reason for pursuing their adult college degree.  My reason for attending adult education courses was to attain my degree and hopefully change careers.  As I was forty years old when I started, I wanted to complete my degree as soon as possible.  My plan was to fast track my education.  Many of my fellow students choose to take a course here and there and are in no hurry to finish their degree.  Others are limited on the number of courses they take each year by the amount of reimbursement offered to them from their employers.  Somehow Granite State College is able to accommodate all of these restrictions and requirements.  

Through the flexibility and creativity of GSC’s course schedules I will have my degree within three years of beginning this journey at what I believe to be one of the best NH Colleges.  I took advantage of all of the opportunities offered to me at Granite State College.  I submitted a portfolio assessment in lieu of spending the time and money on a basic computer course which I knew I already had a full understanding of.  I tested out of several basic, entry level courses which I once again knew I held the required knowledge of through my years of professional work.  

I began my journey at GSC much like Goldilocks, I needed to find just the right schedule and setting that specifically fit me and my needs.  I started at GSC by enrolling in online classes for college credit as I believed this was the only way I would be able to fit school into my busy lifestyle.  As I found myself comfortable with the online adult programs I decided to challenge myself by trying night college classes next.  This is where I realized that I thrived on the live, face to face interaction but struggled with staying alert and focused after a full work day.  I next ventured into weekend college classes; I found this course schedule to be the perfect fit for me.  Not only was I alert, focused and well rested but the level of intimacy with my classmates and professors led to a more in depth, interactive and beneficial learning experience.

Although I have continued to occasionally take online and evening college classes I have predominately stayed with the varied weekend schedules available at GSC.  These have included long weekends staying on an island, holding classes every other Saturday and the more popular schedule of having one Friday evening class followed by two weekend classes spread out over the semester.

Just as the porridge was too cold for Goldilocks, the adult online classes were too impersonal for me.  Just as the porridge was too hot for Goldilocks, the evening college classes were too exhausting for me.  Just as the porridge was just right for Goldilocks, the weekend college classes were the perfect fit for me!