Today is my first day of school.
Not ever, of course, but it’s been 14 years since my last degree – a master’s in social work from Case Western Reserve University.
And today, I return to school to start work on another master’s degree, this time in teaching at the University of Northern Colorado. A lot is different this time around!
All of my previous schooling was during my late teens and early twenties. I am now in my late 30s (I’ll leave the math as to my exact age up to you). Disclaimer: I will be in class with others ranging in age from mid-20s to 50s. So it’s really not as bad as it could be. But that doesn’t’ mean I’m not nervous. In fact, I’ve never been nervous about school until now. Will I make friends? Will others know more than me? Will I be challenged?
All of my previous schooling took place without the assistance of caffeine. Coffee drinks were just gathering momentum when I was in grad school and while I would have an occasional café mocha or latte, it was rare. Now, each day begins with 16 ounces of coffee – black. Does this mean I’ll be even more alert and focused?
All of my previous schooling took place in Ohio. This time I will be in Colorado. Greeley, Colorado to be exact. The first thing most folks ask when you tell them you’ll be in Greeley is “how’s the cow smell?” Home to several cattle feedlots, the pungent smell of excrement can often be noticed as far as an hour in any direction. When Spring first breaks the odor is fairly strong, but I don’t notice the smell most of the time. In any case, I’m not only going back to school, but I moved to Greeley in order to do so. Not a big deal considering I spent the last 5 years just a short drive West in Boulder. All of my previous moves involved the idea – at least in my own mind – of reinventing myself. I relocated to California, New York, and Colorado without knowing anyone. This time, my community is still nearby. And so it’s not a reinvention. I’ve had stability these last 5 years. Boulder is the longest place I’ve lived besides my hometown of Marysville, Ohio. And in some ways, the stability – the leaving it behind and yet it’s still there – the lack of “reinvention” – seems to be leaving me more nervous than all of the other moves combined.
How will it all turn out? Let’s find out! Time to walk to my first class…
Not ever, of course, but it’s been 14 years since my last degree – a master’s in social work from Case Western Reserve University.
And today, I return to school to start work on another master’s degree, this time in teaching at the University of Northern Colorado. A lot is different this time around!
All of my previous schooling was during my late teens and early twenties. I am now in my late 30s (I’ll leave the math as to my exact age up to you). Disclaimer: I will be in class with others ranging in age from mid-20s to 50s. So it’s really not as bad as it could be. But that doesn’t’ mean I’m not nervous. In fact, I’ve never been nervous about school until now. Will I make friends? Will others know more than me? Will I be challenged?
All of my previous schooling took place without the assistance of caffeine. Coffee drinks were just gathering momentum when I was in grad school and while I would have an occasional café mocha or latte, it was rare. Now, each day begins with 16 ounces of coffee – black. Does this mean I’ll be even more alert and focused?
All of my previous schooling took place in Ohio. This time I will be in Colorado. Greeley, Colorado to be exact. The first thing most folks ask when you tell them you’ll be in Greeley is “how’s the cow smell?” Home to several cattle feedlots, the pungent smell of excrement can often be noticed as far as an hour in any direction. When Spring first breaks the odor is fairly strong, but I don’t notice the smell most of the time. In any case, I’m not only going back to school, but I moved to Greeley in order to do so. Not a big deal considering I spent the last 5 years just a short drive West in Boulder. All of my previous moves involved the idea – at least in my own mind – of reinventing myself. I relocated to California, New York, and Colorado without knowing anyone. This time, my community is still nearby. And so it’s not a reinvention. I’ve had stability these last 5 years. Boulder is the longest place I’ve lived besides my hometown of Marysville, Ohio. And in some ways, the stability – the leaving it behind and yet it’s still there – the lack of “reinvention” – seems to be leaving me more nervous than all of the other moves combined.
How will it all turn out? Let’s find out! Time to walk to my first class…
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