By Carol Schoen
FoxNews.com
On any weekday morning in 400 or more college classrooms throughout the United States, groups of students ages 60, 70, 80 years old and more, are listening to lectures, participating in discussions, or researching issues on such scholarly subjects such as "The Golden Age of Spain," "Shostakovich and his Time," or "Class and Conflict in England." These men and women have discovered that the joy of learning does not disappear with age but on the contrary, has proved to be a treasured resource for the years following their retirement.
"Lifelong Learning," the term now used to designate this phenomenon, is one of the great resources now available to older men and women seeking to find productive use of their later years.
To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, college is a wonderful thing, it’s a shame it is wasted on youth. For college-bound students, so much of their studies is devoted to preparation for careers that many of the courses which might appeal to their natural curiosity must be set aside.
What the men and women involved in Lifelong Learning have discovered is that their retired years are the perfect time to return to the classroom and indulge their curiosity to their hearts’ content.
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One student I'll never forget is Steve. He was an engaged and eager student. He was always early to class and never ever looked at his cell phone during class. He was my student 3 years ago and was in a class of extremely unengaged students. His written assignment was so beautifully written that it brought tears to my eyes. He came to visit me in class last semester. He hugged me and told me he would never forget me. He looked a little thinner, but still had an impish grin and a wonderful sense of humor. He was my best student. Ever! Steve is now almost 88 and is still taking classes. I envy his professors. Thank you, Steve! Thank you for brightening my life and being a part of my social convoy!!
ReplyDeleteActually, it's because I want to continue learning that I don't want to go back to school and take classes.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those "non-traditional" students at our local community college, an aspiring geologist.
ReplyDeleteI retired from a large West Coast fire department last year and began to attend classes.
I have found college much more rewarding this time around, I seem to be able to concentrate much better now than I did at 18 years old.
I believe in the concept of life-long learning, I feel fortunate to have the time and money to be able to return to school.
The younger students seem to be very distracted by cell phones etc,which seems to detract from the overall college experience for them.
I appreciate the time and effort my instructors put into their classes much more now than in the past.