|
By Ann Norford
DID MY REASON take flight when I was deciding to go back to school at age 63?
That’s a good question.
A decade later, having completed my BA degree in Political Science with
distinction – and made front page news in the local newspaper – I can say my reasoning skills have really taken off!
A number of universities across Canada offer free tuition to students over 65
years. Seniors living on fixed incomes love bargains, and the opportunity to
earn a degree, free of charge, is a priceless opportunity.
Learning is an adventure requiring enthusiasm and excitement. For me, at 63
years, it was not going to be a snap; a whole new skill level was required – particularly computing. But the time and hard work I invested was hugely
rewarding.
We were moving to Lethbridge for work and family reasons; and the picturesque
University of Lethbridge, set astride magnificent coulees, lured me. With two years left before I could qualify for
free tuition, I enrolled at Lethbridge Community College – as the courses were less expensive. Initially, I registered in a single course,
to test my ability to sustain the discipline required for success.
My advisor at the college was amused by my dissatisfaction with 80 percent
grades; most students came to her with 60 percent grades! But she did help me
achieve 90s.
A professor of English gave me a meagre mark for my use of clichés in a paper, ‘The Failure of the Charter’; but she gave me 10 out of 10 for content. I learned the importance of building
friendship with this professor; and she learned that I was opinionated but
relevant – but then, I was old enough to be her mother!
Having wet my feet with some history, politics and writing, and receiving
honours in my College Certificate, I gained confidence for the university
adventure.
Conventional wisdom states that polite company never discusses politics and
religion. But they are the only two subjects worth talking about, because both
dictate much of our lives.
Continue article >>
|
Don’t worry; this article is not about either – at least, not explicitly. However, this basic truth is the reason I returned to university in my old age.
I was especially fascinated by political theory.
The study of the great books – including the Bible – provides moral and spiritual ballast in the stormy seas of 21st century
contradictions: between our economic prosperity and our search for a spiritual
purpose; between our assertion of limitless personal freedom and our craving
for community.
I am forever grateful to the university professors for those amazing readings
and writings which have stretched my thinking and enriched my soul – not forgetting the dense red scrawl on significant papers that kept me coming
back for more.
Besides the heavy stuff, I learned some useful trivia. My neuroscience class
taught me that even an old brain can change! More dendrites and synapses might
ward off dementia, and living with purpose assists in living longer.
Why did it take me so long to finish my studies? Well, I have a life: travelling
for family, short term missions and writing. At my age, there are also
setbacks. A broken wrist just prior to a final exam resulted in a grade point
tumble; two rotator cuff surgeries and a bunion surgery kept me out of
circulation for a while!
Was it tough at times? While waxing eloquent most of the time, occasionally I
complained to my offspring. Their response? “Mom, you don’t have to do this!”
So what am I going to do with my degree? Well, I’m certainly not saving it for a rainy day! I shall continue to do what I
love: read, write and respond to the issues of the day.
Ann and Bryan Norford are co-authors of Happy Together: Daily Insights for Families from Scripture.
January 2011
|
