Trials and triumphs of a middle aged student

 I was a 40 year old mother of two daughters.  I was a sophomore student pursuing my adult college degree .  I was a reluctant writer.  I would break out in a sweat when I had to write a simple note to my child’s school explaining that I would be dismissing her early for an orthodontist appointment.  I spent countless hours and days agonizing over every written paper assigned to me at Granite State College.  Although I had friends, colleagues, and family members who offered to proof the papers I was tasked to write for my college evening classes, I was too embarrassed to allow anyone other than my teenage daughters to read my writings. 
 
 What changed all this for me?   One long weekend secluded on an island off the coast of Rye, NH.  I had not gone away on my own, without my children, for almost 2 decades.  When the opportunity presented itself to me I decided to take advantage of it and enrolled in a 4 day intensive program of weekend college classes.  During the Labor Day weekend of 2008 Granite State College offered both an Oceanography and Creative Writing class on Star Island.  As I was a business major student that had already satisfied my science credits yet lacked the required English credits I unenthusiastically enrolled in the writing course.  I spent all of that summer reading and distressing over my written assignments for the upcoming Labor Day course.  My anxiety over having to share my writings in person, face to face, with strangers grew as the summer came to an end.  I tried to talk myself out of going all together but the class was totally paid for between grants and scholarships, if I did not show up I would have had to pay for it out of my pocket.  The financial consequences are what pushed me to attend the class.  As it turned out, I would have paid three times the cost of attendance out of my own pocket for what I gained in those four days!

 What did I gain?  I gained the knowledge, experience, stories, advice and support of an eclectic group of amazing writers.  Our professor was a current, professional, published author.  My fellow students were a mix of IT professionals, hospice workers, business owners, stay at home moms, librarians, widows, and the list goes on.  Many of my classmates had published articles and short stories.  When I arrived I saw myself as an outcast, being one of only two business majors.  When I left, I was a struggling writer with the tools and confidence to continue on with my studies and tackle new challenges.

 What did this experience do for me?  This weekend intensive class, as all of the weekend college classes offered by Granite State College, offered me new experiences, new friendships, new learning opportunities and new found assurances.  My days on the island began with a sunrise yoga session on the lawn instructed by Sonya, a classmate and accomplished writer and amazing woman.  The days involved spirited discussions, workgroups and sharing of individual writings while sitting in rocking chairs overlooking the ocean.  Our evenings ended with my sides hurting from laughing at the antics of Robin, our resident comedian!    Marta, our librarian, had a dark, comical side that took time to surface; Alan was the quiet, token male, who had incredible writing talent hidden beneath his nonchalant demeanor.  Jeanne was the mother of four children who wrote like she had no other responsibilities in life; writing was in her blood, in her soul.  I learned so much from the many characters, writers, students in attendance.

 
If you are looking for more than an academic education, if you are looking for an experience, an opportunity, a life altering moment, please ask me about Granite State College and how it has changed and enhanced my life.  I am happy to share my story with anyone who is interested.