LIke many others, I spent much of my time over the past few weeks reflecting on 2019. There were a handful of changes for me (which could probably get their own posts each), but my most noteworthy success was that I survived my first full year as a student after about 8 years of being away from school.
So many elements are working against the nontraditional student. Most nontraditional students work full time, many have kids, often they have other family responsibilities, and they usually have fewer financial resources. This article in Inquiries Journal points out that nontraditional students are significantly less likely to obtain a degree and goes into more of the details on why
Even though I didn’t do as well as I would have liked during my first year back, I did pass most of my classes and I am still signing up for more. I’m still making progress towards getting my degree. So, I’d like to discuss a few insights I had while reflecting on the first year — a combination of struggles and victories.
Time Management is a Bitch
I feel less like I’m managing my time and more like I’m constantly making sacrifices.
This time last year I was working two jobs while trying to figure out school. In May, I transitioned out of my old job so I could focus more on my new role and my classes. The goal was to give myself more time and make things a little easier.
Instead, new job picked up. We got a few more clients (WOO-HOO!) and I was handed a few more projects. I love the experience and I am immensely appreciative for the opportunity to work in my field while I’m studying, but I never got a chance to catch my breath or actually learn the skills I needed to balance everything.
It’s a good opportunity to use the phrase “sink or swim.” So far I’m still swimming, but I have a lot of friends that I haven’t seen in a while, very little writing to speak of, and two very bored cocker spaniels.
Minimum Champion
My SO frequently reminds me that I just need to do what’s necessary to get my projects done. He’s not wrong, but that’s hard for someone like me. I very much prefer to dig in to projects and learn the subject deeply.
I feel like when I only do the minimum for classwork for the sake of getting points, I’m cheating myself. Here I am with this amazing opportunity to do something great and apply myself and earn myself a better life. I should be putting my all into each assignment.
Teaching myself to put limitations on how deep I go into an assignment was helpful for my time management, but not so much for my GPA. It turns out, when you do average work, you get average grades.
I’m taking on a smaller course load this term so I can try to get my GPA back up to where I would like to see it. It’s hard to accept that reducing my workload will push back graduation, but I have to think about the big picture. A few extra semesters with better grades will be worth it in the long run.
Immediately Applicable Lessons
Here’s one that’s more positive than the first two insights…
I am incredibly fortunate to be getting assigned projects at work that are aligned with my studies. So many students are stuck at dead-end jobs waiting for their degree to be their ticket out. By the time I graduate, I’ll have three years of relevant experience and a very impressive portfolio of writing.
At one point last year, upon receiving instructions to compose a massive proposal at work, I remember explaining to my boss that I just covered proposals in class two weeks prior. I had a stack of textbooks at the ready with examples and explanations to get through each step of the process.
This isn’t true for every class. I’m currently enrolled in a Mythology class, and it will be much more difficult to apply my lessons from that in the office. But one of the perks of a Liberal Arts degree is working with abstract concepts and applying them to daily life.
Boss lady might not be as amused as I will be trying to force mythology into work.
Last year was tough. There’s no denying it. I signed up for one hell of an adventure when I applied for school and a new job within a few weeks of each other, and an adventure is what I got.
No regrets. The growth that I experienced last year was priceless, and I’m looking forward to more.