First Day of School

Here we are, less than 24 hours before the first day of class of the new academic calendar, and am I, a mature, thoughtful, self-assured adult, completely ready and fully prepared to attend every class and pay complete attention? Of course not.

Being an adult doesn't necessarily mean being mature in every facet of the personality. One part of me wants to just chill for a few days -- what some people might call a vacation. I suspect, though, that I'll be over this by tomorrow morning, and ready to start learning about American History before 1870, Teaching Composition, Victorian Prose and Poetry, Senior Thesis, and Ancient and Medieval Philosophers.

My inner 10-year-old is resisting the final fade of summer.

I think I'll go outside and turn over some rocks on the beach.


Personal Note: Happy 41st, Bobby. Wherever you are, live in joy.

Tardy Student Sets a Milestone

About five years ago, a Kenyan man in his 80s took advantage of a new law providing free elementary school education to any citizen. Kimani Ng'ang'u Maruge wasn't going back to school because he especially loved learning: according to an NPR story at the time of his death last week, Maruge was a military veteran on a pension. He wanted to be able to read and do math, so he could be sure that he was getting all the benefits he deserved.

Maruge's story makes me think that age is not a factor in being a successful student, although maturity and motivation might be. I'll find out whether the organizational skills developed in the course of a few careers will be as useful as the more recent academic experience of my younger colleagues, who are already in the habit of studying and taking tests.

One advantage of the older student is the tendency to prioritize social contacts below academic goals. In other words, I'll be skipping the keggers and, um, other activities that marred my studies at the University of Washington and the University of Puget Sound. And I probably won't feel deprived, or even nostalgic.