Adults return to continue studies

Two and a half years ago, Mary Norman came to Bloomington with a huge void to fill.

She had just about done it all. She worked in the travel industry, developed programs for a school, opened a fine dining restaurant, became a master gardener, immunized children in Africa and obtained a realty license.

“I was doing things that I thought would satisfy what was needling me inside,” Norman said.

But those accomplishments didn’t cut it. Now, at 50, Norman is in college and working on a general studies degree with the help of the Bloomington Continuing Studies program at IU.

“This is what has been chomping at me all my life,” Norman said. “This is where I’m supposed to be.”

Working up enough courage to get to college was not easy. Norman never attended college after high school. Instead, she supported her former husband in his schooling while adjusting to motherhood. It was Norman’s daughter, an IU alumna, who encouraged Norman to finally apply to school.

“I had major anxiety attacks at the beginning of each semester because it was my own self doubt and my insecurity that I was going to be in class with all these young, contemporary, tech-savvy classmates,” Norman said, “and they were going to look at me and think, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to school with my mother.’”

This semester, Norman said her anxiety has subsided. Her financial anxiety has also decreased because for the first time, the Office of Continuing Studies has awarded 11 scholarships to Osher Reentry Scholarship Program. Norman received one of them.

“There aren’t as many financial aid opportunities for older students,” said Ron White, executive director of the IU-Bloomington Continuing Studies program. He said returning students are just as deserving, if not more so, of scholarships than the typical student because the financial responsibilities tend to be much greater.

Applicants will have the opportunity to apply for the Osher scholarship each semester. The program awards up to $3,000 per year for full-time students and up to $1,500 per year for part-time students. The selection committee considers both need and merit in its decisions. The major requirement is that students must have experienced at least a five-year gap in their formal education, according to the application.

“This is going to ease the burden, and it also shows recognition that I’ve made the commitment, I’m doing the best that I can, and I’m being rewarded for it,” said Norman, who plans to send a hand-written thank you note to Osher himself.

The Bernard Osher Foundation is based in San Francisco and funds this award for 74 select schools, according to the foundation’s Web site.

“It took me a year to two years of schmoozing to get invited,” White said of acquiring the money for the University.

In the midst of economic turmoil, this scholarship could not come at a better time, White said. Companies such as General Electric are shutting down plants in the Bloomington area, leaving many without college degrees without jobs as well.

Loren Nixon, an Osher scholarship recipient and GE employee, maintains a positive attitude.

“Schooling is something we’re all going to have to get into,” said Nixon, who is part of the transition team at GE. The team brings university representatives to the plant to promote education and condition workers to a classroom setting in hopes that they will prepare themselves for another job.

“We try to provide that link between adults in the Bloomington area and the IU campus,” White said.

But for Nixon, who is going back to college after 20 years, IU’s education will offer more than just job security.

“A large part of the degree is for self satisfaction,” he said.

Norman can relate.

“I want that piece of paper that says I did it.” Norman said. “And I’m doing this only for myself.”