Her last child has graduated from college, so the mother now has time to go back to college. Having spent much of her time working and supporting her children in their scholastic developments, she has decided this is her time for self-gratification. Or it could be, going back to college after being away for many years is a valuable opportunity to network with likeminded individuals. Or else, it might be an opportunity to live out her dream. Going to college at any age is virtuous because doing so increases knowledge, and stimulates intellectual plasticity which are both conducive to growth. For whatever reason the person returns to college, being back in school will reward the student with either new knowledge, self-indulgence, or new friends. One hopes for all three.
Having and rearing …show more content…
children can be rewarding and gratifying. Although raising children can bring abundant enjoyment, they also consume a considerable amount of time, energy and money. This causes most parents to put their dreams and desires on hold so as to tend to their children’s priorities. Birthday parties, tutoring sessions, swim meets, play dates, sleepovers, the list is endless. Parent-Teacher conferences were the best. The joy in receiving reports on how the children are succeeding is superlative. It must give parents a sense of satisfaction knowing that their child, or children are reaching their full potential. Surely most, if not all of the sacrifices on behalf of the parents and for the benefit of the children were certainly worth the expense. The children are now adults, and have their own lives, families, and dreams. This may well be the first time parents are actually able to consider their own desires without feeling guilty or self-centered.
Perhaps one of the early desires was to visit a foreign country. She can now indulge in her dream of preparing for the trip. She now has the time to take a college course that apprises her of valuable information about that country’s culture and history. One of the classes might teach that country’s language, another class may discuss that country’s art, culinary characteristics, and more. She may even join a group or club that stimulate her playful side. This could be just the beginning of her journey into self-gratification.
Going to assemblies, engaging in stimulating conversation, are all exciting outlooks after so many years of instructing, coaching, tutoring, and advising. She can make new friends by teaming up with classmates in order to complete required class projects. These assignments may have been tedious and time consuming during her first stretch, but in this mature period of life are now thought-provoking and gratifying. Networking with likeminded people from different cultures and backgrounds, exchanging ideas and anecdotes can make the transition to college life easier. The absence of stress in having to manage a full load, or sustain that 4.0 GPA also makes the process pleasing.
Perhaps her dream job did not pay enough to provide for her family or send her children to college as was obligatory for her at the time.
This steered her to the major she chose, the degree she earned, and the field she worked in. Now fulfilled; she can go back to college, take classes for her dream job, and start a business doing precisely what she always dreamed of doing. Having the knowledge that she accomplished her maternal intentions; she has the desire and fortitude to learn a new proficiency so that she can realize her dream. Her motivation this time is self-enrichment as opposed to preparing for a career, family or workforce as was her previous motivations.
As a returning college student there is a renewed sense of direction and excelling. This new level of maturity models good behavior to the modern classmates who are no longer passing notes to and fro, but in this new age texting. Her forward-looking attitude feeds her energized quest for new knowledge and initiates a new and rewarding sense of self. She takes pride in learning new and different information, making new friends and appreciating a different and fresh
outlook.