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Show f December 13, 1985 Forum Page 10 features Westminster Benefits From Non-Tra- d this for professional reasons. Getting my degree is just a personal goal that I have set for by Sharon Cook , What is a student and why myself. are there so many at Westminster? stuAlan McEwan is also a According to James Toomey, dean of the dent part-tim- e on a Westminster attending school of professional studies, the definition of e as a while being employed basis a student is anyone 25 years of senior analyst. programmer age or older who has returned to school. McEwan is a computer science major who is Why would someone return to college after been out of school for 5, 10, or 15 plus minoring in business. He returned to college having students reasons after fourteen years. He said, I returned to years? The for returning are as diverse as the students school for two reasons. The first being that I themselves. have found you can only progress in your probefore you need to fession to certain Ilene Hancock is a student have more aeducation.point second reason for The who attends Westminster on a part-tim- e basis I was lacking in felt was something e while working as the senior personnel returning life and I didnt feel that I was progressing. my representative for a local firm. She said, I Rochelle Phillips is a social science major have been going to college off and on now for almost 40 years. Originally I was taking classes who returned to college in order to get her just because I enjoyed learning. I also felt I degree and go to work in her chosen field. needed to pick up some classes that would help Before I returned to school, she said, I was a homemaker and found myself becoming a prome in my job. fessional volunteer. I needed the degree to get At the time I started taking classes, I was paid for what I was already doing. raising my children and it was very difficult to She added, My volunteer work helped me to attend school with all the responsibilities of a was could. It I I what did but find my niche which is in child welfare. I young family after my children were grown that I became needed to be back to work but I wanted a job serious about getting a degree. She added, In that would pay well and that I would enjoy. all honesty, I have to admit that Im not doing al non-traditio- full-tim- non-traditio- non-traditio- non-traditio- full-tim- COMMITMENT You'Ve made a commitment to your education and to your future. Long hours at the library, writing papers, cramming for tests. We understand commitment. That's why CSB is proud to be part of the Guaranteed Student Experience While obtaining her degree, Phillips was juggling her education, an internship, a hus-- band and three small children (two of which are under three years of age). All of the students interviewed by the Forum had the same fears and apprehensions about returning to school. Terry Ellis returned to Westminster after being out of the education system for ten years. She said. non-traditio- "I was very apprehensive about going back. I wondered whether or not I would still have good study habits and how well I could compete with other students. Hancock said, It was very difficult for me when I initially returned. I was insecure about trying to compete with young and bright kids that were fresh out of high school. I felt I was very stagnant" She continued with, By thinking it would be so difficult I placed myself under a lot of internal pressure that really didnt need to be there. Phillips even wondered, Had my brains during the six years I was not in school? What about it just how well do student do when they return to a formal educagone al tional system? Loan Program. Getting through school is tough enough without worrying about money. If you qualify, well lend you the money you need with no repayment due until after you leave school when your earning power is greater and the According to those interviewed, they do very well and in most instances they get better grades than when they were in school before. Toomey pointed out that, students face a lot of obstacles when they return, but being motivated to study is not one of them. Most of the individuals that are returning to school have very specific goals in mind and are willing to commit whatever time and effort is necessary to obtain their goals. Non-tradition- al student Toomey also sees the as an asset to the classroom. He states, They can add a lot to the class just by relating their past experiences about different issues. The students are also beneof traditional and this from mixture fiting stustudents. One dent comments, My education has not been one of academics. Talking to the younger students and watching them interact has helped me to understand how they feel on certain issues and why they feel the way they do. Toomey said, The mixture of and traditional students provides real strengths in all areas of the classroom. al non-traditio- non-traditio- non-traditio- non-traditio- pressures of school are off. The current annual percentage rate for student loans is with up to 10 years to repay. For help setting up your student and ask for loan, call 535-10the student loan advisor. 8, 00 Commercial Cccurtty ClanU MMkCntnltn! Copyright Commercial Security Banoorporation |