Yes

by Nadia Ghanny

Created on: May 14, 2011

I was 23 years old when I entered post secondary education as a result that I was not the average student graduating high school at 17 or 18 but at 20 years old.  Wait! Don’t assume that I was intellectually slow or not working to the best of my ability.  Matter of fact, I did work very diligently during my early academic career but personal life circumstances, which I was one of the main characters on the stage of life gave me a late start in the forum of learning. 

As such upon graduating from high school I didn’t immediately attend university as I always hoped to.  I had no supports in my life at the time and therefore, needed to create my own supports specifically the “financial support system.” I worked a full time job during the day and attended night school doing a course load, which I would eventually discover was based on a full time student in attendance. 

If you are at this point in your reading and cannot see the connection to the title in my writing, please don’t despair.  I have a need to explain the early history of the facts before I can explain why “do older students get more out of their college education.”

Consequently at this time of my not so young life at the age of 23 I found myself being asked the question by the academic counselor at the university. What program I was interested in and the career path I hope to pursue?  I immediately said Psychology but many people were advising me that Business Administration was the key to the future.  I eventually took and accounting course and failed disastrously with an “F” grade. I knew at that very moment Business was not for me so I switched to the Psychology degree program.

Essentially, my early life experiences in the area of learning and education shaped my motivation on learning as an older student or technically referred to as “the mature student.”  As such, the drive I had in me fostered such qualities as commitment, discipline and inspiration to learn.  These were the tools, which I required to pursue this course of action for learning.

Case in point, I am a seasonal Professor and it never cease to amaze me how many of my students have some difficulty with punctuality, submitting timely assignments, lack of motivation, lack of interest and overall some are lackadaisical in appearance not to mention when asked about why late for class, the usual responses; “I didn’t want to take the bus” and my mom was running late with the car.  Another would be “I am really not sure what I want to do” or “I am just here because my parents are paying for my education.” Yet another, “this course is not a priority for me I only am here for the credit.”  Such obvious responses have permitted me to conclude that most of these students are “spoilt” and or many take for granted the opportunities they are given.  I often coined the younger generation of learners as the “entitled” generation. Some rather accelerate up the ladder of success instead of climbing step by step thus; there is no value or appreciation. As such, I believe the world of academia should incorporate more practicum as it stands very few programs incorporate this piece.  Fusing the working world coupled with the academic world provides a lot more value and will help in building more merit and appreciation.   

Being an older student provided me the perspective of both the working world and the academic world.  These two worlds differ very much in the outlook of how we apply what we learn in the classroom.  Subsequently, my discovery as an older student was, the working world provided me with the tenacity and perseverance I equally needed.  It also honed my transferable skills such as time management, organizational skills, communication, writing and listening skills coupled with leadership and management skills.  These skills transcend into the academic forum allowing me to be a better student than many of my younger counterparts. 

Moreover, being an older student I was better prepared mentally and this I believe is the biggest factor when studying at the post secondary level.  Matter of fact, older students are more engaging, which could be attributed because of the vast experiences they have.  Older students would get a lot more out of their education because for many they want to be there, they want to achieve this milestone, which they may have put off to raise a family or was not financially equipped or other personal reasons.

Older students do get more out of their college and or university education for such reasons that they are at the stage of life where they “choose” to do what they do.  In most cases it’s a choice not something forced upon them to complete and in some cases as we continue to see it marks the occasion for better employment opportunities or a promotion.  Essentially, such factors as noted above creates for the older student and “incentive” to continue to learn and professionally develop. 

Furthermore, the older student will get more out of their post secondary studies simply for the sure fact that in most cases they are themselves paying for their education.  Another reason, they made the choice to return to school to study and often is fully aware what the expectations of such a choice entails. Time and energy coupled with commitment, discipline and our inherent drive to succeed.

Before I conclude this article there is one more factor, which I need to mention about older students getting more out of their college education.  When someone decides to return to school it’s a big investment on the part of the person making that choice.  Family plans and other living plans is often placed on hold for such a decision to manifest itself into graduation day.  But the main factor, which propels the older student to get more out of their education, is the “intrinsic” force.  This is the drive we all carry with us inherently and it’s that which we do without any external inducement. 

As an older student I have experienced that motivating force, which propels us as older students to do better than when we ourselves were a young student.   This force is what Psychologists call our “inner drive” that natural law has imbued on us for some part because of survival. Essentially, older students do a lot better in college as a result for the definite reason, that they are not doing it for external approval but for their own inner satisfaction and accomplishment. 

In conclusion, older students get more out of their education because when they return to school it’s more often for them.  It’s not for a particular reward or proof but for the love of learning and or interest in something they always wanted to pursue.  Albeit, there are some who return for work related purposes and or promotion.  Although, this is the reason, older students bring with them life experiences, which is often applied to how they study and what they study.  As such, they have a better advantage to understanding and appreciating the end results at the end of the day a lot better than some of their younger colleagues. 

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