There seems to be an increase of non-traditional students on a national level.
This is a trend I consider to be very positive. Though, perhaps I should admit I’m a 26-year-old sophomore, and therefore a non-traditional student myself.
Many students are considered as non-traditional, according to the National Center for Education Statistic’s guidelines. Students who took a semester off after high school, spent a semester as a part-time student or received a GED or high school equivalency are all considered non-traditional students.
One study showed that over half of all undergraduates fit into this category, and thus, could be considered the new “typical” students. Though many characteristics can define a non-traditional student, the most popular connotation connected with a non-traditional student is age.
The familiar image of a hard working and wide-eyed 18-year-old being escorted to college by his or her parents is fading. Though this category is still present and appreciated, the rise of non-traditional students can’t be overlooked. Economic downturn, war and personal development are among the many possible reasons for this trend.
Finding a suitable job in a suitable job market can take time, so some students take a break to decide what it is they want to do. Some wait to start school until they know exactly what they want to study for the job they want — a difficult task.
I transferred to the University of Idaho from a community college, where it’s common to see students of all ages taking classes.
I met a woman in her 60s learning the finer points of creative writing, because she loved sharing stories about her family’s history with her grandchildren. I had a writing workshop with a woman who had been a nurse, until she discovered that she didn’t like the graphic nature of the job and wanted to find a job in administration.
I met several students taking marketing and business classes after losing their jobs due to the real estate crash. I met construction workers in need of more mathematical knowledge to advance in their careers and countless veterans looking for their niche back into society.
They all seemed to think like a typical student would think, and the more experienced students always seemed to have advice — sometimes
given unprovoked.
Regardless of age, we are all here learning what we can. Most of us are concerned with feeling foolish at first, feeling lonely and overwhelmed.
On a national level, the more Americans that have an education or solid knowledge base to consult, the better off America is and the better off humanity is.
Christopher Dempsey can be reached at [email protected]