My name is Joe Grabowski, and I am currently pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Sciences at Granite State College. I originally began my college experience in the fall of 1986, but being the chronic underachiever/procrastinator that I was, I dropped out of school only two years later. Life happened, and over the span of the next twenty years, I married, became a father and an uncle, and immersed myself in my career as being a home care provider for a developmentally disabled man. I also found myself in the role of worship leader, and eventually as an associate pastor, at my church.
Life was very good, and rich in many ways, but I had long carried the self-condemnation of failing to finish my college education. For years, I had entertained the idea of returning to school, but I always found myself held back by fear, not the least of which was a chronic anxiety that I would revert to my underachieving patterns. Although I was significantly older, it wasn't hard to imagine that I would approach a return to college with the same immature attitudes that had plagued me throughout public school and my first two years in college.
After turning 40, however, I reevaluated several aspects of my life, and with the support and encouragement of my family, I decided to take that first step. I decided to look into Granite State College because I had previously attended the Education and Training Partnership foster parent classes held through GSC. Much to my relief, the staff and advisors whom I spoke with were incredibly helpful. I quickly came to learn there really is no such thing as a stupid question.
In the fall of 2008, I enrolled in my first two classes, Nutrition Concepts and Controversies, which was my first experience with an online class, and Critical Thinking, which marked my first time back in an actual classroom since taking a "break" twenty years prior. I loved both experiences, but as a student living in northern New Hampshire, I found that the online classes afforded me much more flexibility with my family and job. Best of all, I quickly rediscovered a passion for learning that I hadn't had since early grade school, and even developed a self-discipline that I hadn't know I was capable of.
Since taking the leap, I've made the Dean's List, and recently was inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda, a national honor society for adult learners. Additionally, my success with my experiences with Granite State College to date inspired me to pursue another dream I had long since abandoned. I took the Mensa admission test when it was offered locally, and was overjoyed when I received notice of my acceptance.
Among the many things I have learned so far along this stretch of my life's journey, perhaps one of the most valuable life lessons I've gained is that it is never too late to redeem discarded dreams and forgotten potentials. I hope to encourage anyone even contemplating beginning or returning to a college for lifelong learning, and to share some of my own successes and struggles along the way. It's been one of the best decisions I've made in my life, and I look forward to the adventures yet to be had!
As a father, husband, uncle, caregiver, pastor, blogger, AND a full-time student of Granite State College, one of the questions that I sometimes encounter is "where do you find the time?"Honestly, that's really a loaded question. If time were something to be found, I would never find it at all. When I stop to think of the sheer amount of relationships, roles, and responsibilities that I have to juggle on any given day, I find myself bordering on hyperventilating, especially when I factor in all that I have yet to do in a given week, or at least by the term's end of any of my adult online classes.
The true answer to "where do you find the time?" is simply "I don't."
I have to MAKE the time. But how is this done?
I recently watched a video by motivational time management speaker, Stephen Covey, on this very subject. Given a challenge to fill a bucket with a certain amount of pebbles and rocks, people will often put the pebbles in first, before attempting the big rocks, which, to their frustration, will not fit neatly in the bucket, no matter what they do. This problem is solved by putting the big rocks in FIRST, and then pouring the pebbles in around the rocks, which then all fits neatly together.
In life, we are given a certain amount of responsibilities, and it is up to us to determine the priorities we give to each. Like in the big rock illustration, what may appear to be overwhelming when approached from one perspective, becomes manageable when approached from a different mindset.
Of course, I can't answer for you just what constitute your own pebbles and rocks, but I can tell you, from personal experience, that you CAN do it! You will never find the time to pursue your education, but you can make the time. It's a small distinction, but it's an important one. Granite State College is a lifelong learning college, one that recognizes the unique challenges faced by nontraditional adults, and accommodates for them through night college classes, weekend college classes, and, the option that best suits my busy life, online classes for adults.
Don't wait to FIND the time, MAKE the time! It's your turn!
Another twelve weeks has come and gone at Granite State College, and I am emerging on the other side of this term changed once again. Perhaps 'changed' isn't the right word, as each class has enhanced or refined who I am as a person. I don't believe that one can actively engage one's mind and learn new concepts without being impacted. A truth, once learned, becomes a part of who we are. Once our eyes are opened, it would be utter foolishness to close them again to what we have seen.
Learning doesn't stop at the classroom door. Some people consider their educational career to have been completed upon receiving their high school diploma; others equate learning with adult continuing education programs, and "pause" between courses. What I've found from taking my behavioral science classes, as well as the core and elective classes, is that the readings, discussions, and assignments throughout the terms have stirred my hunger for knowledge.
I've often filled the between-times trying to learn more about the subjects I've already learned, or trying to satisfy my curiosity about thoughts and ideas yet to be explored. A simple search for "behavioral science" on YouTube results in many videos illustrating the psychological concepts discussed in textbooks and classes. Another favorite site of mine is http://www.sciencedaily.com, which I've used extensively both in my classes and for my own interest.
One of the many benefits of being a recipient of adult higher education at Granite State College is that it has prepare my mind to be a lifelong learner, not only in the classroom or through the online adult programs, but in the great classroom of life.
There is knowledge waiting to be discovered everywhere. Whet your appetite and prime the pump at Granite State College.
Learning doesn't stop at the classroom door. Some people consider their educational career to have been completed upon receiving their high school diploma; others equate learning with adult continuing education programs, and "pause" between courses. What I've found from taking my behavioral science classes, as well as the core and elective classes, is that the readings, discussions, and assignments throughout the terms have stirred my hunger for knowledge.
I've often filled the between-times trying to learn more about the subjects I've already learned, or trying to satisfy my curiosity about thoughts and ideas yet to be explored. A simple search for "behavioral science" on YouTube results in many videos illustrating the psychological concepts discussed in textbooks and classes. Another favorite site of mine is http://www.sciencedaily.com, which I've used extensively both in my classes and for my own interest.
One of the many benefits of being a recipient of adult higher education at Granite State College is that it has prepare my mind to be a lifelong learner, not only in the classroom or through the online adult programs, but in the great classroom of life.
There is knowledge waiting to be discovered everywhere. Whet your appetite and prime the pump at Granite State College.
As the fall term at Granite State College winds to a close, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season."We are born weak, we need strength; helpless, we need aid; foolish, we need reason. All that we lack at birth, all that we need when we come to man's estate, is the gift of education." ~ Jean Jacques Rousseau
One of the very best gifts that we can give ourselves is the gift of education. It's not too late to register for the Winter 2010 term!
One of the very best gifts that we can give ourselves is the gift of education. It's not too late to register for the Winter 2010 term!
I'm a big fan of quotations. When you consider how many words have been written in the span of human history, it's easy to believe that everything that can be said has already been said in a far more eloquent fashion than I could possibly articulate in a fresh and original way.
This blog, then, is primarily to convey what other people can't: My own experiences.
In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few quotes about lifelong learning that have spoken to me during my journey at Granite State College:
This blog, then, is primarily to convey what other people can't: My own experiences.
In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few quotes about lifelong learning that have spoken to me during my journey at Granite State College:
"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives." ~ Clay P. Bedford
"Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life." ~ Henry L. Doherty
"You learn something every day if you pay attention." ~ Ray LeBlond
"The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live." ~ Mortimer Adler
"Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will."
~ Vernon Howard
~ Vernon Howard
"No matter how one may think himself accomplished, when he sets out to learn a new language, science, or the bicycle, he has entered a new realm as truly as if he were a child newly born into the world." ~ Frances Willard
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." ~ Henry Ford
"The man who is too old to learn was probably always too old to learn." ~ Henry S. Haskins
"The day you stop learning is the day you begin decaying." ~ Isaac Asimov
Less than two weeks remaining of the Fall term at Granite State College!I can honestly say that this term has gone by the fastest for me of the seven terms I've attended to date. At the risk of sounding like a walking cliché, it feels like just yesterday that I was registering for my current classes. In all actuality, I cannot believe that it's already been over two years since I first registered with GSC.
I'd flirted with the idea for years, but never found the courage to actually take that step until after I'd turned 40 in April of 2008. Even then, I procrastinated for as long as I could as I took a small baby step forward by making an initial appointment with an advisor. I didn't know where to start, and was overwhelmed by what I'd imagined the process to entail.
I can assure you that it was much less daunting than my mind had painted it out to be.
If you are currently considering pursuing an affordable bachelor degree, or any other adult college degree, I encourage you to look no farther than Granite State College. Located in New Hampshire, GSC is small enough to retain a sense of community, even to those of us who attend almost entirely online, yet big enough to offer a broad range of online classes for adults and evening college classes located throughout the state. Financial aid is available even if you don't have time for anything more than part time classes.
There's plenty of information about how to get started, or to request more information, to be found at the Granite State College website. Here are a few pieces of information that I wish that I'd had when I first started weighing the idea of returning to college:
- You can apply for financial aid online. The FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) doesn't take nearly as long to complete as you might imagine, and you may even discover, as I did, that you are eligible for grants and/or scholarships. Though there is an annual deadline to apply, I completed mine in mid-August, and began my classes on time in September. For more information, check out GSC's Financial Aid page.
- If you fill out the FAFSA, you'll need a PIN. This isn't a big deal at all, but serves as your electronic signature. A link to the Federal Student Aid web site is provided on the FAFSA web site. Creating a PIN only takes a moment, and is very easy.
- You can meet with an advisor, even if you haven't formally decided to enroll. I first met with an advisor from GSC a couple of years before I actually enrolled. He answered all of my questions, and never once made me feel as though I was wasting his time. Though I didn't actively enroll at that time, that meeting prepared me for the later step.
- Download and view the Winter 2011 catalog, or prior catalogs going back several years. Once you start reading about the courses offered by Granite State College, you'll soon find yourself wanting to take many of them!
- Register online! According to GSC's web site, you can even register for a class now and apply later. Registration for the Winter 2011 term is now open through December 29th, 2010, and classes begin January 8th, 2011.
If I can do it, so can you!
I have been spending the month of November cultivating an "attitude of gratitude" on Facebook. At least once a day, I have written a brief note about someone or something for which I am thankful. As I had previously written about, the last couple of months have been personally challenging for me, but I've purposely adopted a mindset as of late to focus on the positive things in my life.
So, on that note, I thought I'd mention a few things for which I am particularly grateful for Granite State College this year:
YOU will be thankful that you did!
Happy Thanksgiving!
So, on that note, I thought I'd mention a few things for which I am particularly grateful for Granite State College this year:
- I am thankful for professors who, though physically distant, have shown empathy, patience, and compassion as I've struggled to keep up with this term's coursework. Though I've not had this problem in my previous classes, I've seen these qualities consistently exhibited to my fellow students. The educators at GSC truly want to see us succeed, and are willing to work with us to ensure that.
- I am thankful for my advisor, Kate O'Neill. Based out of the Claremont office, she has always made herself available whenever I've had a question, or have needed some guidance in the next steps I should take in my journey.
- I am thankful for being able to participate in the GSC student blogging program. Though I've not yet written much, I have appreciated the opportunities to tell my stories, and to encourage anyone considering, or pursuing, an adult college education.
- I am thankful for the Granite State College blogs in general. The various posts by some of the administration, teachers, and fellow students have given a state-wide, online school for adults a sense of community. Even though I am an isolated student, I feel as though I am part of a digital campus. It has been great to hear the heartbeats of the very people who make GSC such a great college.
- I am thankful for having had the opportunity to redeem past potential and dormant dreams. I'll be writing more about that in the days ahead, but for now, I can attest to GSC's contribution toward helping me to become the person I was always meant to be.
YOU will be thankful that you did!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Life just happens.
This has not been one of my best terms. I don't say that because my classes are difficult, or because I've been under the weight of heavy coursework. I say that because life threw me a curve ball at the end of summer, a sudden change of direction that I am still processing. Over the past few months, I have found my sense of focus and motivation challenged by these unexpected circumstances, and it has been all I can do to keep myself still moving forward toward my goal of earning my Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Science.
This has not been one of my best terms. I don't say that because my classes are difficult, or because I've been under the weight of heavy coursework. I say that because life threw me a curve ball at the end of summer, a sudden change of direction that I am still processing. Over the past few months, I have found my sense of focus and motivation challenged by these unexpected circumstances, and it has been all I can do to keep myself still moving forward toward my goal of earning my Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Science.
Having said that, I can say that it goes to show the beauty of adult online classes. Had I been constrained to a more traditional approach to continuing education, I might not have made it this far through this term. The ability to adapt my schooling to my ever-changing daily life has been a critical part of my success so far. As adults with busy lives, careers, families, and a thousand other demands put upon us, finding the time and the self-discipline to add school into that mix is challenging.
But it can be done.
Another thing that I can attest to is that the professors at Granite State College are committed to helping you succeed. I've yet to encounter even one teacher who has not been willing to work with me when situations have emerged that I have had to tend to. Communication is important. Don't make excuses, but be real. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the people who rally to your side.
I have four weeks left to go to this term. To date, I've been running a 3.97 GPA, but this term may bring that number down a little bit. One thing I have learned, however, is that it is not so much about how well you run each step of the race, but that you persevere to the finish line. I have four more terms to go, and though I may have stumbled a little during this leg of the race, I am still on my way forward.
I had mentioned in my last post that, when I was first re-entering college, I had been encouraged by a couple of other blogs for non-traditional students. One blog that I continue to follow is "The Non-Traditional Student Blog". It consistently provides a wealth of useful information, tips, and encouragement for adult learners, and I've found it to be a great source of support over the past two years.
Having shared that, for prospective and current students at Granite State College, nothing beats reading the stories of the staff, students, and alumni in their own words. It is this very program that has, for me, transformed the online college experience into a greater sense of community. Though I am physically far from most of the various GSC locations, having the opportunity to put faces to the names, and to read the words from their hearts, I feel as though I am practically living on campus.
I hope that you find these blogs every bit as useful and encouraging as I have.
Having shared that, for prospective and current students at Granite State College, nothing beats reading the stories of the staff, students, and alumni in their own words. It is this very program that has, for me, transformed the online college experience into a greater sense of community. Though I am physically far from most of the various GSC locations, having the opportunity to put faces to the names, and to read the words from their hearts, I feel as though I am practically living on campus.
I hope that you find these blogs every bit as useful and encouraging as I have.
"Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know." ~ Daniel J. Boorstin
I recently began my new fall courses at Granite State College, two years after making the decision to return to college and taking those tentative first steps in seeking out adult financial aid. Now, with six terms of Behavioral Science classes behind me, I'm more than halfway through my journey toward earning my Bachelors Degree.
I applied to participate in the GSC student blogger program with two intentions in mind:
- To encourage those adults who are currently contemplating returning to, or even beginning, college. For years, I had given much thought to finishing what I had started all those years ago, but was held back by fear. When I finally took those steps at 40 years old, I was encouraged by a couple of blogs I'd discovered written by other non-traditional students. Had Granite State College offered this blogging program earlier, I may have decided to take those steps even sooner. Over the past several months, I've enjoyed reading the various blogs written by faculty and students, and consequently have felt more personally connected to the college, even though I live in a remote location.
- To share some of my experiences over the past couple of years with others who have found themselves in a similar life situation. When I first started, I wasn't entirely sure if I would prefer taking evening college classes, where I would have face-to-face interaction with my professor and classmates, or online classes for college, in a format that would afford me a much broader range of educational choices and greater flexibility with my already busy life schedule. I'll be writing more about those experiences in coming days.
Is there anything that you have been wondering about that I may be able to answer for you? Are you longing to pursue education and career advancement, but find yourself wrestling with self-doubt? Are you wondering if there is such a thing in this economy as an affordable Bachelors degree? Are you daunted by the prospect of applying for adult financial aid?
Or, have you also made the leap, and are currently trying to juggle family, career, and school? Are you challenged with the task of optimally managing your time? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by coursework and second-guess the wisdom of your decision to take on these extra responsibilities?
I've been there. Not only that, but I am still working my way through all the dynamics of this chapter in my life. You're not alone, and I'd love to hear from you!
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