College

My granddaughter Cynthia asked if she could add my name to a list of people that would recommend her for a student loan. Don’t these people know that a grandparent’s comments would be biased…biased for the good, I mean. Student loans have to be payed back. I sure hope the economy is such when she finishes her schooling that she can get a job that can handle the debt. My faith in that is waning. But, like my father, I believe in the value of education. So if she ends up unemployed she can carry on a meaningful conversation with the other people under the bridge.

My father made the comment about believing in education years ago when I informed him that I wanted to drop out of college after 1 ½ years and go to nursing school. I never finished nursing school and I didn’t go back to finish my undergrad work until I was in my 30’s. To my defense, at 18 I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life outside of getting married and having kids. I was curious about a lot of stuff, though, and did a lot of reading.

I am retired now. I think once in a while that going back to school would be fun. I would love the reading and the discussion. I would even like writing papers. My youngest daughter Heidi is planning to go back to school for her master’s degree. She is in her 30’s which was my age when I went back and her youngest child, Jack, is the same age she was when I went back. Going to school after a few years of life experience was amazing. It seemed that every concept thrown at me had a connection in my life that either supported it or refuted it. I know I didn’t feel that when I was 18 years old. Most of what professors tried to teach my young immature self was simply theoretical and pretty much went over my head.

I have often wondered why it is the tradition to go to college right out of high school. Most people I know who went to school after a few years of life under their belts were way more engaged and motivated. They also knew what they wanted and didn’t waste money on studies that didn’t end up useful in their life’s work. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from waiting to attend college. But I would not discourage the traditional path either. I am relishing in the awakening occurring in my granddaughter. Her life down the road will be different because of all that she is learning and pondering right now.