Non-Traditional And Unafraid

Since making the decision to return to college as a non-traditional student, I haven’t felt anxiety or fear. My history in education includes Dean’s List performance, so I’m not concerned about my ability to achieve and the college I’ll be attending has a very high percentage of non-traditional students, meaning I won’t feel out of place. Living on campus will allow me to save money and the fact that I don’t work will eliminate any scheduling problems. In short, I’m lucky.

Many non-traditional students don’t have it as easy as I do. They have busy families, demanding jobs, and other expectations that they must meet in addition to taking on the added stress of courses. I can’t imagine the strength they have, taking on so much in order to provide a better life for themselves and those they love. They have my admiration.

Fortunately, as the number of non-traditional students across the country rises, colleges and universities are responding, creating programs designed to aid students who don’t fit the traditional role as they pursue their degrees. Through Non-Traditional Student Services, more and more colleges and universities are making a return to education less confusing and frightening and more exciting for those who seek to improve their lives.

Defaulted Student Loans

I have $32,291 in defaulted student loans. Over $4000 of that is interest. As someone on disability who receives less per month than one person working a minimum wage job, it has been impossible to even consider dealing with such an outrageous debt. However, I’ve decided that I’ll no longer allow my disabilities to control my life. I need to return to college so I can find employment that works for me despite my illnesses, allowing me to pay off the debt. This, of course, means a battle to pull my loans (7 of them) out of default status, as well as the accumulation of more student loans.

Fortunately, in-state tuition at the local university is low, so I will find myself with less debt after graduation than the majority of students who are just entering college will face. Higher education has become so expensive that my daughter is reluctant to take on the debt that comes with the benefit of a degree. I’m sure she’s not the only one doing a cost/benefit analysis when thinking of her future.

I was raised to believe that an education is one of the most valuable things we can get. The opportunity to learn opens our minds and places us in a better position to approach any obstacle placed before us. I know monthly payments on student debt can be stifling and we need reform on financial aid programs, but I still believe that it’s worth it, even as we wait for a more intelligent approach to educational financing.

I Don’t Know What That Means

One day, bored, I began watching Bones on Netflix and was amused by Temperance’s repeated statement of “I don’t know what that means.” Here’s an intelligent character who, without a second thought, admits that she’s not perfect. As a perfectionist, I found myself admiring that trait.

Lao Tzu stated, “A wise man is one who knows what he does not know.” Wisdom does not come from perfection nor omniscience, but rather from self-understanding and acceptance of our weaknesses and strengths. The ability to say “I don’t know” provides us with a special opportunity to examine areas where we can improve skills and knowledge, turning flaws into benefits.

This blog is my opportunity to examine what I don’t know (and there is so much I don’t know) as I move forward with my life. I have a lot of changes coming up that will definitely lead to questions about myself and the world around me. Here, I can express what I’m learning and continue to accept that I don’t know what everything means.