Life changes.

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:50 am

Cranberry wrote: This is good advice. Teenagers who have their wealthy mommies and daddies paying for their college and who don't have to work to support themselves tend to do worse in life overall, from my experience, even if they graduate with a degree because that's all they've ever known, is being a middle-class or wealthy healthy white person (usually white person, but not always). It's people like me and Walden, who choose for ourselves to go to college, and who struggle with all the "how"s and "when"s and "what if"s, and who know on our own terms, through our own efforts (not the efforts of parents), the value of an education, who do better in college and life in general. At least, I believe so.

Seems to me that having parents who can pay for college doesn't preclude a choice to go to college.

Walden, good luck. Sounds like a terrific adventure that you're embarking on. It'll be great.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:53 am

Cranberry wrote:...and I didn't start college until I was 19, so I am a mature-aged student.

Your average beginning college student is 18-ish. You're still in the ballpark.

Try going to college at 35.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:58 am

Walden, I think you will rock n' roll in university.
You are, in fact, so much more clever, literate and
articulate than the average college student.
Just like Cranberry.
Have fun, and yes, do take what you want.

They'll let you in, I'll wager. They need the
tuition.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:00 am

Nanohedron wrote:Your average beginning college student is 18-ish. You're still in the ballpark.

At my college the average beginning age is 17. I'm 5 years older than that, and I have a chronic incurable disease. That ages a person, too, you know. Or maybe you don't.

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:02 am

Cranberry wrote:At my college the average beginning age is 17.

That's surprising. That means there are a comparable number of 15
and 16 year olds to offset any 18 and over?

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:03 am

fearfaoin wrote:
Cranberry wrote:At my college the average beginning age is 17.
That's surprising. That means there are a comparable number of 15
and 16 year olds to offset any 18 and over?

Some, yes. My college is very small, and it is different from most others in the country. Only low-income, high-achieving Appalachian students are allowed in, for the most part, although we do have a large international population compared to schools like Brigham Young or something.

fiddleronvermouth · Post by **fiddleronvermouth** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:04 am

Nanohedron wrote:
Cranberry wrote:...and I didn't start college until I was 19, so I am a mature-aged student.
Your average beginning college student is 18-ish. You're still in the ballpark.

Try going to college at 35.

I just might! (That still leaves me four years of farting around and travelling the world between disposable jobs...)

Good luck, Walden. I have a cousin who suffers from serious exam anxiety - he's very bright, but fails the Big Test (whatever that is for biologists) every time he takes it. Nevertheless, he's a wonderful father to four beautiful, smart kids, a loving husband, a great boyscout leader, and does research in brain cancer. Nevertheless, he gets very blue each time he does poorly on The Test. In our eyes he's an incredibly successful person anyway.

Hopefully you're not as nervous as he is - all the best.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:10 am

Cranberry wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:Your average beginning college student is 18-ish. You're still in the ballpark.
At my college the average beginning age is 17. I'm 5 years older than that, and I have a chronic incurable disease. That ages a person, too, you know. Or maybe you don't.

You said you started at 19, Cran. Two years' difference is not that much.

I don't bring my own infirmities into the discussion. Almost all of us have something hard going on in our lives. And I've seen enough cases where aging does not confer maturation, whatever the cause.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:12 am

Nanohedron wrote:
Cranberry wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:Your average beginning college student is 18-ish. You're still in the ballpark.
At my college the average beginning age is 17. I'm 5 years older than that, and I have a chronic incurable disease. That ages a person, too, you know. Or maybe you don't.
You said you started at 19, Cran. Two years' difference is not that much.

I don't bring my own infirmities into the discussion. Almost all of us have something hard going on in our lives. And I've seen enough cases where aging does not confer maturation, whatever the cause.

I think we shouldn't hijack this thread but rather leave it to the moral support that Walden asked for.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:13 am

Cranberry wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:
Cranberry wrote: At my college the average beginning age is 17. I'm 5 years older than that, and I have a chronic incurable disease. That ages a person, too, you know. Or maybe you don't.
You said you started at 19, Cran. Two years' difference is not that much.

I don't bring my own infirmities into the discussion. Almost all of us have something hard going on in our lives. And I've seen enough cases where aging does not confer maturation, whatever the cause.
I think we shouldn't hijack this thread but rather leave it to the moral support that Walden asked for.

Definitely.

Jeferson · Post by **Jeferson** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:48 am

Walden wrote:...the time is right for me to go back to school. I'm telling you all of this because, frankly, I need the moral support.

Sounds like good news, W.

You'll no doubt be successful, as you've clearly got a sharp mind and, with the added confidence that comes with a bit of extra time and personal growth, you've got what it takes to get through the typical college stuff. They'll be lucky to have you there.

Jef

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:34 pm

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/ ... athway.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>Is the wooded pathway lonesome? 
We ofttimes make it so, 
Ignoring friends and kindred, 
Our spirits hang so low.
We dwell upon the shadows, 
And not upon the light, 
We think upon the problems, 
And not upon the right.
We dread the snakes and insects, 
Ignoring every rose, 
We dwell upon each thorn that 
On the rosebush grows.
But friendships make the journey, 
More bearable each day, 
They help us keep our focus 
Along the shaded way.
by Aaron Walden © 2006

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:35 pm

Go for it Walden.

Your very high level of intelligence combined with your maturity and thoughtfulness will get you through it without any problems.

Slan,
D.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:54 pm

Walden,

This is great news. Just go into it with no expectations, on your own terms and take whatever major you want. You'll see it through and you will have a fantastic experience. It won't always be easy but it will always be worthwhile. I'm proud of you for paying attention as this opportunity has availed itself to you. Many would sit in the stands and let it pass them by without acting on it. By choosing to go, your journey has already begun. Start paying attention to what happens around you now. Life is going to start moving at a different pace with this possibility existing in the space as part of your reality.

Best,
Paul

amar · Post by **amar** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 2:41 pm

that was a very nice poem.

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Life changes.

Re: Life changes.