Coming back to school

Like every new student at IU, freshman Liz Egan found herself both anxious and excited about starting her first day of classes.\n"It was pretty scary," she said. "It was overall very nerve-wracking."\nWith the help of two very close family members, Egan managed to face her fears and made it through what was the beginning of a new chapter in her life.\nIt's a typical situation, one that every freshman, past and present, can certainly relate to. But what makes Egan's experience a little different from what most would consider a typical first day of classes is that Egan is 38 years old. Her two close family members were not friends or parents, but her 10 and 12-year-old sons.\nThe recently widowed Egan, who returned for a degree because of her family's new financial situation, finds she can relate to the other students despite the age gap between them.\n"I think I felt much like the same they felt, mainly because I put this off for a while," she said.\nIt is a common misconception that people attending college are all fresh-faced students in their early 20s or wide-eyed freshmen right out of high school. But not all students fit that description.\nAssistant Director of Returning Student Services and Outreach Helen Fagan said there are more than 1,100 returning students currently enrolled in General Studies alone -- and the number is growing.\n"The trend seems to be that, in part due to the slumping economy, more people are coming back to finish or start school," Fagan said.\nIn today's world, having a degree is an important part of finding a well-paying job. Coming back to school is an obvious choice for many adults who have found themselves hurt by their financial situation.\nBut having such a large gap between high school and college can make the university experience seem a bit more overwhelming than it is for younger students. Classes such as the two-credit hour course X152, Learning Strategies for Returning Students, reviews basic skills and study habits while placing returning students in an environment where they can relate to others facing the challenges of reimmersing themselves in academic life.\nBut, as some students have noted, being a returning student does have its benefits. \nJunior Amy Countryman, a 27-year old organic farmer in Bloomington, points out that with time comes a wisdom that she said only life experience can bring.\n"I'm glad I waited to go to school until I was clear that I wanted to go," she said. "Now I know what I want to study and take my education seriously." \nEgan said she enjoys being able to reconnect with her younger years while enjoying the experience. \n"I just feel like one of the kids," she said. "I only feel older because I have life experience. When we're talking about certain things (in class), I can directly relate to it."\nThere is no specific age for attending college, and at such a large school, anyone can be seen sitting at the Indiana Memorial Union with a backpack at his or her feet. \nStill, as a student here, Countryman points out one minor difference that sets the ages apart. \n"I have yet to go to a party."\n-- Contact staff writer Liz Ranegar at eranegar@indiana.edu.