You may have seen me in the dining hall, walking around campus, at campus events or in classes. You may have wondered, just as I was asked last fall, "Are you a teacher or a student?" And even if you know I am a student, and an undergraduate at that, you might have wondered why a woman in her thirties, who is married to an IT professional and has a 4-year-old son, is back in college. The answer to that is simple: I took the "scenic" route on my way to my college diploma at IUP.
My freshman year at IUP was 1988-89 -- quite a while ago. I arrived here a cocky 17-year-old who had been told all her life how bright she was and who was spoiled by hardly having to work to succeed in junior high and high school.
I thought I knew it all and believed college would be just as easy. I didn't listen to my advisor regarding my class schedule and increased my course load to 17 credits -- including Arabic!
That was my first mistake. If I hadn't thought that I knew myself better than he did, that I needed more of a challenge, I believe I would have prevailed my first time through.
I may have known my past academic record, but my adviser knew the realities of college life.
My second mistake came from a lack of maturity. I was so overwhelmed with my freedom from my family that I forgot why I was here in the first place: to get an education. It may seem like no big thing to skip a class, and sometimes there are legitimate reasons to miss, like illness.
However, if it becomes a habit for you, like it did for me, you'll end up on academic probation. If your classes are difficult, get help from a tutor. There are many people who can help you if you seek them out! If your grades do not improve, you may be academically dismissed from IUP -- just like I was.
I'm not saying that you should live like a drone. You should be involved in campus activities, for your education isn't limited to the classroom and your choice of activities will supplement your resume when you search for employment.
And having a rich social life helps you to forge friendships that will support you through your academic journey, and they may even last you a lifetime. Your first job, though, is to learn. That's exactly what school is -- your job. Take it as seriously as you did your summer work. Students need to find a balance, myself included.
Last night I shared with my mother something I could not my freshman year at IUP: my certificates and letters congratulating me on making the Dean's List. It may be 15 years later, but some things truly are better late than never.
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