What is a nontraditional college student means? To be considered a nontraditional undergraduate, you: Do not immediately continue your education after you graduate from high school. In this research paper, I will talk about my own experience as a nontraditional college student. I will talk about my life as a nontraditional college student and the reason why I wanted to come back to school and continue my education. I will also write about the reasons why I didn’t continue my education and where or what school I attended during my youth.
Experienced of a nontraditional college student
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time” by Thomas A. Edison was always my favorite quote of all time. Nontraditional students are contrasted with traditional students who 'earn a high school diploma, enroll full time immediately after finishing high school, depend on parents for financial support, and either do not work during the school year or work part-time'. I didn’t graduate from high school but my passion is all about getting a degree.
With today’s changing world and the economy, the way it is. It is not uncommon for people of all ages to enter the college setting. Two-thirds of students entering the college setting are classified as non-traditional (Brown, 2007). Bill (2003) found that there was an 11% increase in non-traditional student enrollment from 1991-1998 displaying 35% in 91 and 46% in 1998. These numbers have since increased according to Jacobson & Harris (2008) showing that half to 75% of undergraduates consist of non-traditional students sitting the reasons for reentering the college setting are economic.
In this paper, I will talk and share about the hard life that I experienced during my youth. What exactly defines a non-traditional student and what services may they need in comparison to the traditional student? There is much tradition that has passed on through the generations today that is not the same as the years that passed away. As stated in the bible or the fifth commandment, I will also share in this research paper.
So, as a nontraditional college student, I will write about the reason why I didn’t finish my education and also the reason why I wanted so badly to come back and continue my education while I can. “I believe as a nontraditional college student, I can still get that degree because my parents died, all my children are off island and I’m chasing my dreams.”
Why I didn’t finish my education
I used to go to Samoa College in Apia. I grew up in a pauper family. My family was not that well known inside our village as a rich family but it was well known as one of the lowest families. Right after my level 12, I told my papa and my mama that I would stay home to look for a job to help them. I feel sorry for my parents about the things that our village said about us I decided to put a full stop right there from my education and started to look for a job at the time. I always think about Abraham Lincoln and his early education life. According to the Abraham Lincoln Historical Society (2009), Lincoln received little schooling during his childhood, but, as a teenager, he borrowed and read every book he could find and it’s just amazing how he was the 16th president of the United States of America.
The particularized motives of nontraditional students may vary according to age. For younger non-traditional, obtaining the credentials necessary to enter desired employment has been critical. People between thirty-five and fifty years of age often seek to improve their career prospects with expanded qualifications. This marks an important shift in motivation toward growing one’s capabilities to keep up with changing knowledge demands or to assume greater responsibility. Further, rapid changes brought by globalization may require quick retraining if the worker is to remain competitive in the global economy. People in their later years, on the other hand, are overall more likely to pursue personal enrichment goals, and even to seek degree credentials for their own sake.
Nontraditional learners are likely to take longer to complete their degrees than traditional students and to have higher attrition in their first year. The ability to satisfactorily take and pass classes in the first year is an important factor in the retention process. Having peer or faculty mentors, and adequate access to student services are also important in keeping nontraditional on a course toward a degree. I always wanted to continue my education it’s my passion. I had been out of academia for just over 30 to 40 years and had forgotten much more than I recalled; I was about to find the necessity of rapid adaptation. I would soon be thrust into a world in which everything would be new. I would be like a fish crawling out of the primordial goo with fresh legs about to take my first breath with fresh evolved lungs.
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I am referred to as a “non-traditional” student. According to Leslie Lang, the coordinator for Adult Learner Programs and Studies at Penn State, there are 4000 non-traditional students enrolled at Penn State. Leslie Lang says, 'The criterion is any student over 24 years old who is enrolled as a first-time student, or under 24 with multiple roles: they're married, they're parents, or they have military experience.' I fit the mold in that I have been out of high school for 30 to 40 plus years and am almost 81 years of age.
People are beginning to realize the importance of education and accreditations to remain competitive in the working world. Jobs are now scarce and even graduates are not able to get jobs in the fields of which they studied.
Early life experience as a nontraditional college student
As stated in the bible or the fifth commandment “Honor thy father and thy mother”. The generations of the past have been subject to parental discipline and instruction. The father and mother do not rest. Parents that are alert in the community and instruct their children on how to behave. As a nontraditional college student, I feel so sad when I see these things in our new generation. That’s the life that I experienced when going back to school as a non-traditional student.
Parents that are alert in the community and instruct their children on how to behave. Today the voice of the father and mother is gone, but the child is alive and always watching TV shows or movies that are not suitable for children 3 or 4 and younger. I live near the movie theater in Nuuuli and I noticed a family, the father and mother moved in with the little ones. By no means should this time be a family time for the children and their parents to gather around for an evening service and then after the evening prayer, the father would speak and tell each child of what should be done in the family. For example; the father would say, “Jim and Tom, weed the plantation and prepare the umu for Sunday” – Like that Samoan song, “Usu atu o le sue, e tutu Lana faapusa, otegia le ava, ua susu ulama”.
The reason why I am continuing my education
As a nontraditional college student, experienced the life of the new generation nowadays, and it saddens me. It’s like 75% of all youths in American Samoa don’t want to continue their education. Non-traditional students are often faced with obstacles that make life that much more challenging as compared to traditional students.
Parents died
As I mentioned before, the reason why I stopped going to school was to help out with my parents. I missed them and I hope to see them soon. Now my parents are not with me anymore, I get the chance to go back to school continue my education, and get my degree. I thank God, that my parents are not with us anymore but I still get the chance as an 80-year-old adult to continue my education.
All kids are off-island
This was another reason why I didn’t get the chance to continue my education way before my parents died was my children. Right after I dropped out of school, I looked for a job and got a job at Molesi Wholesale in Apia. While working there, I met my husband and he got me pregnant while we were still a couple. We got married while I was still pregnant with my first baby. Right after we got married, my husband wanted to have more babies. We have 7 children and that stops me from continuing my education or my goal. Now, they are all grown up and have a family of their own, moved off-island, and got good jobs.
Chasing my dreams
Kevin NGO (2015) says should we continue going after our dream because seeing the look on the faces of the people who said we couldn’t, will be priceless. (SUCCESS.COM) As Mentioned before, while growing up it’s my passion and my dream to continue my education and get that degree. Even though I didn’t finish my high school year thank God I’m still alive and that gives me the chance to chase my dreams again.
Conclusion
Sometimes you just want to take a break from all the fussiness that is causing you stress at work. Remember success is not a destination; it is a journey that you need to go through for a long period. It is not a sprint, but a marathon. Many people mistake success as doing something great and that success will come over overnight. The truth is the opposite. If that helps you spend more quality time with your family then so be it. Almost all the successful people who have accomplished amazing results can do so because they persist long enough, they take action consistently enough, and of course, they never give up. I thank God for giving me the strength at this age to go and continue my education and my dreams.
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