O/T - I waited over 5 years for this

jason, NW Ontario · Dec 30, 2011

The forestry industry up this way was crumbling in '06, and I took advantage of an indefinite layoff at the mill I'd worked at for 8 years. Everyone told me I was crazy to leave the security of the mill, how it was just a speed bump...
I went back to college for a 2 year Environmental Technician program, and showed the kids what dedication looks like; finished in the top 5%. My wife and I had our first child while I was still in school. Budget was pretty stretched but we got through. We had our second son shortly after.
I clunked around working short term contracts, mostly seasonal, and wondered if I'd made bad decisions. I got picked up a year ago for a 6 month maternity-leave replacement at a mine in my field; it was extended to the full year. Now the mine has offered me the same position but in a full time scenario - pension, benefits and long-term security.
If anyone out there has doubts about going back to school as a mature student, my advice is treat the school like it's your job: don't be late, attend, make your deadlines, and treat your teachers like your supervisors. I'm living proof it's possible to change your stars - it just might take a while.

thanks for reading
Jay

MarkB_MI · Dec 30, 2011

Congratulations! I'm happy to hear that your dedication paid off. Too many people let themselves get stuck in a dead end because they are are unwilling to make a new plan.

randallinMo · Dec 30, 2011

Fantastic. Congratulations. I applaud you! You're living proof of my theory that kids SHOULD NOT go to college immediately after highschool. The percentage of those that do DON'T have a clue what they want to do....total waste of money and time. Go out into the REAL world first....look around while earning your keep. THEN go get the degree in the field you KNOW you're interested in. Good Job!

Nancy Howell · Dec 30, 2011

You are 100% correct.

I work at a community college and see many older students. Some have lost their jobs and are returning using state and federal aid programs for unemployed.

If they do as you did, study, attend their classes, do the work, it can make a huge difference in their lives.

Lloyd In South Carolina · Dec 30, 2011

Excellent! Congrats! You should be very proud!

I hope it gets even better!!

L.

Billy NY · Dec 30, 2011

That is a good story about staying the course, especially with an addition(s) to the family increasing the financial burden on you. There are times to make or run with a change, always with no guarantee, from my perspective, no guts no glory, no ground gained without taking risks. I did a similar thing in my career, and without taking some risk or change, I'd have never advanced my salary, position, none of it was easy, looking back, education and job experience was the key to it, they go hand in hand, 'cept, I think job experience has more value.

doubleN · Dec 30, 2011

Bingo!

I have taught Technical Writing at a community college for 21 years. What you have described and what Nancy Howell says below is absolutely correct.

I'm sorry about the reasons for adults having lost their jobs (Hope and Change, primarily)but I love having them in class. They are mature, goal oriented and are great examples and even mentors to the "kids" (last June's high school graduates) who are in the class.

So-to those of you who don't know what to do next--enroll, take advantage of the programs that are out there and realize that the college and the instructors are there to help you and--will be glad to have your there.

Happy New Year!

Goose · Dec 30, 2011

At age 77, I'm still registered as an active student at the University of Nebraska, still take classes as time permits. My wife retired from UN several years ago, and gets a lifetime tuition waiver. She doesn't use it, so it transfers to me.

And at my age, I've never felt out of place in a classroom, nor have I had any problems interacting with the other traditional students. We're all there for the same reason.

One thing cracked me up. About ten years ago, I took a class in "Economics of the Health Care Industry". For the degree I was working on, I needed one more 400 level Economics class. This one plugged in and looked more interesting than traditional Economics where a prof just covers the blackboard with charts and grafs the entire class. (And it was).

What cracked me up, was the prof in this class and I were about the same age, and we were both older than the age at which the textbooks began referring to people as "elderly". He and I had many a laugh over that.

Dachshund · Dec 30, 2011

Congrats!
I'd THINK about going back - if I could afford it, had an inkling of what I wanted to study, and there weren't so many "required electives" involved.....

Brad Gyde · Dec 30, 2011

I too, took some classes lately.. It's part of my plan..

I planned to take some classes this winter, however, with the way our fall has went (and the way the bank statement looks) I think I'll put it off this winter and end up heading out of town to work. It's been a bad year for me..

I started out last winter with beginning welding classes, plan to take a couple more classes in welding, and would like to take some machine shop classes, and eventually have myself a decent welder, mill, and lathe and do some work out of the shop to make "extra" money.. You know, to "support the habit".. Plus, being able to repair and make some of my own parts would also be swell..

Glad to hear it worked out for you.. When I hear of this kind of thing, it makes me want to continue on myself..

Brad

1936 · Dec 30, 2011

In 1964 an old guy about 40 was in a Botany class with me so it was in fashion in the 60's. Good job.

oldtanker · Dec 30, 2011

Great job! Something to show your boys when they get older and don't want to go to school!

I went back to school under a VA rehab thing in 2000. No more than graduated and started having a few extra problems and VA retired me. While I was in school in my mid 40's there were several students who were older than me. I've talked to several and they are working in the field we trained for!

Never too late to go back to school. Wife's Grand Mother got her HS finished and started taking some college about 4 years before she passed away......at 102 years. And wife finished college and her internship this semester at the tender age of 55.

Rick

Mike (WA) · Dec 30, 2011

I was 36 when I went to law school- wondered if I could "cut the mustard" with all the youngsters just out of college. Became friends with a guy who was a few years older than I was, and we just treated it like a job- there at 7, coffee in the lounge, and to the study desk by 8. Study or in class the whole day, left at 5. Dinner, then a couple more hours hitting the books.

Worked out fine- I did very well ("Iff'n I do say so myself", as grandma used to say), and didn't have to study on weekends, so could be daddy and catch up on stuff at home.

I wasn't too thrilled with being a lawyer (too much pressure to bill outrageous amounts, when you're with a firm), and actually went back to Farm Credit for 5 years- but then they laid off about a third of their employees in 1995, and I've sure been thankful I had something to fall back on. I've found its not so bad if you work for yourself. I'll never get rich at it, but "its a living."

davpal · Dec 30, 2011

A lot of us don't have the option of having the government take care of us for 5 years and paying for our schooling so we can go back to school. The only ones that get to do that here in the states are welfare mothers and the chronicly unemployed. How much money did it cost your country to send you to school and feed your family for the last 4 or 5 years while the rest of us have been working?

Spook · Dec 30, 2011

I wanted to go back to school for nursing, but there isn't a community college in my county, and residents of other counties get 1st choice in their community college. Which means that if you live in my county, it's hard to get into any program.

Spook · Dec 30, 2011

Btw, Congrats!!!

Anonymous-0 · Dec 30, 2011

(quoted from post at 11:01:56 12/30/11) I wanted to go back to school for nursing, but there isn't a community college in my county, and residents of other counties get 1st choice in their community college. Which means that if you live in my county, it's hard to get into any program.

Prolly wouldn't look good in a skirt anyway....... :shock:

doubleN · Dec 30, 2011

You don't know what you are talking about; get the correct info. before you post.

Jerry/MT · Dec 30, 2011

Congratulation! Knowledge is power and education is something they can"t take away from you.
My parents came from what is today the country of Slovakia (formerly Czechoslovakia). Dad was a trained machinist and Mom had an 8th grade education. They pushed all six of their kids to get a good education. They lost one at Normandy but saw the rest become a General Foreman, a Nurse,a Surgeon, an Engineer and a CPA.
Your dedication and your motivaton has paid off for you, and the fact that you struggled balancing family and school will make you a better person and you can be a role model for other people. When the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!

jason, NW Ontario · Dec 30, 2011

Davpal, I sure appreciate that clueless jab, but that's okay - you won't get me down on this one. I'll educate you instead.
Canada is viewed by some of our southern neighbours as a socialist country. Whatever. After losing your job here, you can apply for 'social assistance' called Employment Insurance. All employees pay into this while working. I paid high federal and provincial taxes for 8 years, and then I got 'some' help - I had to cover 40% of everything (tuition, books, room & board 200 miles away from home). I worked each summer between '07-10, and had 2 autumn contracts as well - you don't get gov't help when you're working. When my wife wasn't nursing babies she was teaching full time. And you know what? The government allowed her a year off with each child AND paid her the equivalent of what I was getting for employment insurance! Isn't that notion just crazy?! Helping repopulate our great country instead of relying on immigration from far away countries that support terrorism. :shock:
Here's another example of where all my tax dollars go (when I'm not draining it all myself): healthcare. When my mom had both her knees replaced a few years back there was no bill at the end. Nothing. What would 2 knees cost you, Davpal?
Do we get taxed a lot in Canada? Sure. Am I looked after in a time of need? You bet. And now that I'm retrained, off the temporary work contracts and employed full time with benefits, I'll be making what I think is very good money. The government has a good tax base in me again, and the cycle continues.
Call it socialist if you must, or call me a welfare case but it's not that simple. If you still think my country is worse off for helping me get retrained so they can tax me heavily again, then you need some economic classes.

Jay

Janicholson · Dec 30, 2011

Very good advice (I teach in the Environmental and Technological Studies Department at SCSU in MN). Great choice, and good future. Jim

davpal · Dec 30, 2011

I think my remark was right on the mark. So how much did it cost for your government and fellow tax payers for you to get your job? $500,000 dollars, possibly more? We have it here in the states. People go on unemployment and sign up for classes. As long as you take a few credits a semester you can collect unemployment. So they take online classes, never leave the house and collect $362 dollars a week for years. Can't pay for medical insurance? No problem, go on medicaid and now if you have medicaid your children can get free lunches and go to college for free. We go to college too and pay for the whole thing. It cost my parents over $50,000 dollars to send us kids to college 30 years ago. I don't remember my dad signing up for any free college classes for us. I do remember him working two jobs for a long time though. I'm not getting into a debate about it. Many people love freebies and don't feel a bit of guilt over it. I think people should pay for it if they want it. I'm not talking about taxes either, we all pay taxes, well at least 50% of us here in the states do.

oldtanker · Dec 30, 2011

(quoted from post at 10:03:57 12/30/11) A lot of us don't have the option of having the government take care of us for 5 years and paying for our schooling so we can go back to school. The only ones that get to do that here in the states are welfare mothers and the chronicly unemployed. How much money did it cost your country to send you to school and feed your family for the last 4 or 5 years while the rest of us have been working?

The point being is they did something to get back into the job market not content to just sit at home and draw a check. Now he is in the tax payer group. If he took a job flipping burgers he's still be on assistance! Get a life!

Or are you one of these guys who thinks military retirees and disabled vets are on the take too? If so look again. They (myself included) made a contract with the government and the government is fulfilling their end of that contract after we met the terms ourselves.

Rick

jason, NW Ontario · Dec 30, 2011

$500,000?! You really have no clue. For me to go to school for 2 years cost $21k, 40% of which was covered by my wife and I. For 8 years before my layoff I was almost taxed that amount annually. And now that I've been back working steady since May '10 the gov't is more than happy to take even more than before.
Don't talk to me of handouts and freebies; I paid my own way through university 15 years ago - I didn't need my parents's help. Since May '10 my income tax has already paid back the money that was allotted to me. You're completely off the mark.
I am not the proverbial skidmark here - I've always worked hard, and my grades proved that. The examples you give above don't apply to me. Sure there are people who abuse the system - that happens everywhere.
If you walked a mile in my shoes sir, you'd see that I'm one of the good guys, that my story is a tale of victory, not abuse.

Rick Kr · Dec 30, 2011

First, Congratulations. Your hard work and dedication paid off. Clearly many people on here are happy for yoy also.

Second, ignore the few whiners on here that are jealous because you made something of yourself. You could have laid around and done nothing and they still would have complained. Those programs are in place to be a bridge in life not a permanent crutch. That is exactly what you used it for to better your family, now as a member of the working society, you contribute back to the program through taxes so others can better themselves.

An education may not always help you, but will never hurt you in a job search.

Again congratulations.
Rick

730 virgil · Dec 30, 2011

my step daughter dropped out of school at age 16
by age 20 she new she made a major mistake.
she went back to school got her GED went futher and got her CNA realized nursing wasn"t for her is now working on business degree while working 40 hours + a week.
her oldest brother(i don"t claim him) made fun of her telling her she is dumb to go to school waste of time so on and so forth.
so what does brother do sells popcorn and tickects at movie theatre. so who is the dummy here?
brother is a lazy jerk!

flying belgian · Dec 30, 2011

I have said before, I wish I could do high school again, now, at the age of 58. I would get so much more out of it being there because I want to be. Not because I have to be.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 30, 2011

Good for you Jason. It is all legal, passed through Parliament for the people's benefit.
Here in Oz we have Ausstudy, My Daughter used that to get her CPA, when she reached a certain Salary she had to pay it back on the drip feed.Now in Holland earning big bucks, without it she would be selling lollies.It is there to use.
A different era from our or our Father's time.

ShadetreeRet · Dec 30, 2011

Congratulations, Jason. You have a right to be proud of your accomplishment! And you are right, age doesn't make any difference when it comes to getting a better education. As has already been said, older people make better students because they are serious about their goals. I first signed up for a class at our local Community College about 40 years ago. It wasn't for a degree, it was called a "continuing education class" at night. We received a certificate of completion at the end of the course. I have since taken several on different subjects, the last being about five years ago. Again, congratulations on your accomplishment.

WalJohn · Dec 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 13:03:57 12/30/11) A lot of us don't have the option of having the government take care of us for 5 years and paying for our schooling so we can go back to school. The only ones that get to do that here in the states are welfare mothers and the chronicly unemployed. How much money did it cost your country to send you to school and feed your family for the last 4 or 5 years while the rest of us have been working?

It was a good investment of tax money. Instead of living on the dole for the rest of their lives, he is producing tax revenue.

Ryan - WI · Dec 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 10:26:01 12/30/11)
I'm sorry about the reasons for adults having lost their jobs (Hope and Change, primarily)but I love having them in class.

The local small industry in the town I teach closed up shop in the spring of 2008. That left a lot of older low skill workers in the area who had no real job skills other than line production. I will be sure to tell them that the plant closed because of something the junior senator from Illinois did.

newfarmer9 · Jan 1, 2012

As a Canadian also from Ontario, I have NO PROBLEM with my tax dollars going towards people like Jason who are working hard to re-train and get back into the work force. It's those people who lay about on welfare and don't do anything to improve their situation that bugs me, but that's a whole other story.

It seems that davpal doesn't understand that for every hour we work we pay into this system of support in the form of Employment Insurance. You might complain about having a little taken off your paycheque while you're working, but if you ever end up unemployed or need to go back to school, you're darn happy for the help. Basically it's your own money being used to help you anyway.

And I don't know where he is getting this outrageous $500 000 figure. I'm graduating in April from a 4-year university degree, which costs much more than college. Even after paying tuition, books, rent, food, transportation costs, etc. the 4-year degree will have cost me less than $70 000. A good chunk of money, but certainly a lot less than $500 000. To cover the cost of university my parents started saving when I was born, contribute what they can now that I'm actually in school, and I bust my back every spring and summer working extended over full time hours and farming on my own as well.

O/T - I waited over 5 years for this

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