Reaching Lifelong Goals as a Nontraditional Student

Today was the second day of Fall term here in Oregon.   Another crazy crowded day on campus.    Seemed like there were twice as many students scrambling for seats in the crowded classrooms.   I now have been to all of my registered classes, so I am up and running for the term.   Today’s additions were WR123 Research Writing and my “fun” class of History 201.   I now have the full load of classes started and I already have a ton of homework to get to.   Wow, this is a real experience this term.   I had an hour between my classes this morning, so I figured I would get some reading done in a quiet place to study….NOT!!!    Checked out the Learning Center at LBCC, it was a sea of people….only a few open chairs here and there.   Oh well, it is the second day and probably lots of people are there for help on various subjects.   It definitely was not going to be a nice quiet place to get some reading done…   So, I figured that a quick lunch would be good.   Again, the cafe on campus was packed, the poor staff looked like they were really getting hammered, guess I should not add to their problems.   Surely the Library would be a nice quiet place to study.   Wrong!   Almost all the tables in the library commons area were full of fun loving, excited and loud students.   I didn’t try to go into the deep dark recesses of the Library to find a little cubby hole, just gave up.   I realize that it is only the second day of classes and everything should settle down after the first week, BUT…..       I do not yet have any experience with the crowds of a full sized university, that will come Winter Term when I begin my two years of German at the actual Oregon State University campus.   I suspect that this story is not unique though.   The number of Non Traditional Students was evident, I plan to see if I can get the actual statistics for my institution sometime next week.   With college enrollment up here in Oregon, I am sure this is not an isolated phenomenon.    Things are tough all over….go to school!!