Back To School & Older Than My Teacher

Last summer I started graduate school after being on the other side of the desk for 15 years. I had to completely change my life in order to do this. I quit my part time teaching job at a state university, sold my house, packed up my pets and possessions, and moved to another state!

I rented a little farm house and spent a month painting and cleaning it during a 90 degree plus heatwave. At the same time I started summer school (two theory classes) and a new job as an academic advisor at a nearby community college. I was hot, lonely, and exhausted.

Over the next six months, my dog was killed, two of my cats died, my house was buglarized, my daughter's car was stolen and used in a driveby shooting, and I had to go to court over some problems with my out-of-state property. I ran out of money, time, and patience. Two of my children moved in with me after being in their own place for five years. I gained back the 15 pounds it had taken me two years to lose, ripped my hamstring in a fall, and developed colitis.

I made new friends, started a campus organization for graduate students, began working at the university women's center, wrote a book chapter, and survived the winter and my first two school terms. So one way or another, returning to school has been an "interesting" experience, if I use the word "interesting" as it is used in the old Oriental curse, "May you live in interesting times."

I have another year and a half ahead of me before I can claim my second master's degree. Will I make it--I hope so, Was it worth it--I'll find out when I'm done. One way or another, I've learned a lot about myself, not all of it good. I've also had a chance to start again, sort of, because you always have to bring your baggage with you and I have a couple of steamer trunks!