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You've made the decision to improve yourself by continuing your education as an adult. You have registered, bought all your books and supplies, and find yourself in a classroom with 20 or so other enthusiastic adults. Your teacher seems to be knowledgeable and the subject is one that you enjoyed in high school.

Fast forward to mid-semester...Your class has dwindled to about 75% of its original roster. Several students show up only occasionally and the teacher, you have come to learn, likes to lecture for 1 hour and 45 five minutes of the 2 hour class. Your family has started to grumble that you don't cook anymore and your boss wants you to work late several times a week, even on your class night. To top things off, the material you enjoyed so much in high school now sounds like Greek to you. You begin to wonder what it was that you did learn in high school or if those cocktails you enjoy now and then have worn away too many brain cells.

Don't give up! The answer to a successful career as an adult student is to set reasonable goals for yourself and to work in the moment (the semester). Don't get overwhelmed by the thought that you are only completing the first six semester hours of a 120 semester hour program. Concentrate on the here and now. Plan time for reading and more reading. College, it seems, is about 85% reading and 15% other work. Don't put off reading until later. Do it early and completely. Staying ahead of the required reading will go far to alleviate much of the stress you feel in college. Also, sit down with your family and have a heart-to-heart with them about your limitations while you are in school. Ask them to understand and to work together, as a family, to support you through this time. Explain that your education benefits the whole family. If they still don't support you, then load the freezer with t.v. dinners and buy a microwave. Your family will learn to cope. As for your boss, present him or her with your class and study schedule and explain that these times are very important. Ask that they not be interrupted, after all, your education will benefit the company in the long run.

Finally, it's important that you find friends in your classes. While I am very self-sufficient and have no problem working alone, it is always the friends that I make in school who pull me through the rough times. They truly understand from where I am coming when something goes wrong in school. They know things that I don't and this helps me better understand some of the classes. Make friends who are on the same track as you and keep them close throughout the program. They probably need you as much as you need them!

Learn more about this author, Terri Kelley.
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