Jan
27
Yesterday was my first day of class, and even if I hadn’t been anticipating the date for several weeks in a row I would have KNOWN it was the first day of class by the enormous zit that appeared on my face less than 24 hours beforehand. It’s like my body sensed the proximity of being in a classroom environment and served up a comforting physical attribute that would help me fit right in! Ha ha ha THANKS HORMONES FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I was all fretful ahead of time about various stupid things, because that’s just how I roll (in a useless little circle, that is, while bristling with paranoia over unlikely events), and I was particularly worried about not being able to find the classroom. It’s true I am cursed with a comically terrible sense of direction and have been known to get lost in a restaurant while returning from the restroom, but this fear transcended normal levels of concern and took up giant acres of my brain-space yesterday until I was basically just sitting at my office desk, my foot hammering off nervous energy on the floor Riverdance-style, eyes unfocused, while I entertained a rich and terrifying fantasy of wandering the halls for hours in search of the elusive C-164 room, before eventually arriving halfway through the class, creaking open the door and attracting the hostile stare of every student within while the teacher barked at me to find a seat, which I wouldn’t be able to do because they were all taken, and also for some reason I am naked, OH MY GOD.
So ANYWAY, naturally I found the class in about two seconds and took my seat (in the front row! Nerrrrrrrrd) and surreptitiously peeked at my fellow students and tried to determine if I was in fact the oldest person in the room. (Answer: maybe the second oldest, but I had cute shoes on so I win over the slovenly sweatpants-wearing 19-year-olds, right? Why isn’t there a Twibbon for these poor young people, outfitted in what amounts to a droopy Snuggie with random words emblazoned across their poop-holes and their personal body parts threatening to emerge? #PRAYERS4URASSCRACK).
The first hour or so was a little tedious as the teacher felt compelled to go over the syllabus line by line, while I twitched with irritation over people raising their hands to ask things like how do you log into the distance learning portal (apparently I have become the sort of person who cannot understand being unprepared for class, and between that and the front-row seat choice I DON’T EVEN KNOW ME ANYMORE) and what was the bare minimum for participating in the online discussions (it’s like these people don’t even know the joy of arguing on the internet!), but once the actual lecture got underway, I—well, I really enjoyed it.
I mean, it’s sociology, not really a subject I’m personally super excited about, but it was a good lecture and I got a weird kick out of madly taking notes, and I just . . . I don’t know, it just felt good to be there. Doing something so different from what I usually do, taking that first little step. It was awesome, really. And I still got home in plenty of time to play with the kids and put them to bed, how about that?
Here’s to new experiences, new challenges, and new knowledge! Let us not speak of the new tuition bills.
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Very cool. Congratulations! I’m going to be auditing an undergraduate class starting Monday. I also expect to be the oldest, or second oldest, one there!
That was exactly me when I went back to school after(too many years) a long time, complete with the sitting in the front row, taking copious notes, and praying I wasn’t the oldest one in every class (I usually was)
Good luck and enjoy it. I graduated in 2007 (with honors) and kinda miss it some days.
Too funny. I felt the same way two weeks ago when I started back at school again. I planned my day to insure I would arrive at school 30 minutes early since I had to buy my book at the bookstore. I was so freaked out about finding the classroom. Funny thing. I amazingly figured out almost immediately that room 357 was on the 3rd floor and they have signs on the walls with arrows pointing the way!
I knew you would rock it hard.
And look! A whole new area to mine for blog material. Awesome!
You rock! I’m looking forward to following your progress and perceptions.
@Ang: that’s funny you should ask, because my hand about fell the EFF OFF from note-taking. Oh my god, the PAIN. It was worse than addressing holiday cards! First world problem, RIGHT HERE! I brought my laptop (NERRRD) but using an actual pen felt more . . . edumacational. Plus I totally wanted to fill in my fancy left-handed notebook.
And now that I’ve read the first chapter, I think it’s going to be a fantastically interesting subject, really. Sociology: it’s about groups of PEOPLE! Hey, I LIKE people! Boom.
I may have missed this round of questioning when you first mentioned going back to school but…did you fill out your fafsa? There is SO MUCH AID out there for adult learners, there’s usually not a reason for tuition bills to weigh you down unless you’re like…a bajillionaire.
It’s so different going back when you’re a real adult. Go you.
After going back to school for my master’s (four years after graduating college), I think I can say with confidence that college is wasted on the young.
If you can make the transition to typing notes, it’s SO. MUCH. EASIER. I always kept it on paper, because I totally felt more educational. Then I gave the laptop a try… it’s so much easier to pay attention when you’re not frantically scrambling to copy things down.
Go you! I am in awe of your courage and determination to reach your goal. And yes, you do win over the sloppy teenagers but cute shoes ALWAYS wins
@Kate
Not if you’re like my mom and *contributed to her 401k @ work*
Yah, the fafsa people said she should take 70% of that for school. what, and work until 90 to make it up?
Wow, it’s been probably 10 years since I was inside a classroom and back then there was no such thing as online anything. I suddenly feel ancient. Where’s my bengay?
I teach sociology (and have for several years all around the Seattle area), and so I *really* hope you like your course. If you don’t, blame the prof, the students, or whatever, because sociology is one fine fine discipline, if I do say so myself.
I’d bet your prof was pleased to see you there. I (almost) always enjoy ‘adult learners,’ and am glad for the company.
Dude, totally. I’m going back to school myself, and I always feel weird at the beginning, sitting there ready for class to start, wearing actual clothing, while the other students come wandering in looking like they literally just rolled across campus in a bag. After drinking a gallon of 151 the night before. Ah, college.
Hi, I’ve been reading along for a few months now and I just have to say – dude, you are awesome. Congratulations on taking this step.
Congrats! Way to go!
Also, “a droopy Snuggie with random words emblazoned across their poop-holes”?
LOL my arse off. Totally want to embroider that on a pillow.
OMG! I can SOOO relate. I am the oldest in all my grad classes which can be a tad annoying, especially when they ask the same questions as your classmates re: what’s the bare minimum participation, etc. Good luck. So far it’s been an interesting ride and I look forward to keeping up with you along the way.
I thuohgt finding this would be so arduous but it’s a breeze!