I just bought my books for my last semester as an undergraduate.

[Tobin S.]

Next week is finals week for the summer semester. I know what I have to do to get the grades I want. Man, it's been a long hard road.

I wonder how I will look back on the last couple of years when I am older? Working 50-55 hours a week and taking three classes a semester year round. I might think I was crazy. I might think that now.

I think I will be proud of what I've been able to do, even if I think I was a little crazy. Someone told me that I wouldn't be able to do this at my age. I'll be 42 when I graduate.

What I want you to see is that in a world where so many people are trying to tear each other down, it is still possible to build yourself up- at least in this country.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That is a milestone, my dear Tobin!

You HAVE worked very hard, and as I've said before, you are about to reap the rewards.

You should be proud!

And a little crazy is not a bad thing...IMHO, of course.

Congrats!

[Lochloosa]

2. Congrats. I'm not sure I could have done that at. 42.

[nirvana555]

3. How AWESOME! My God you should be so proud!

I got my Bachelor's Degree when I was 41 back in '98 and it truly is the proudest accomplishment of my life. It has made an incredible difference in my life.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. I was 34 when I got my Graduate Degree....

At the time, back in the 70's, I was a divorced single mother of 2 small kids, and determined to get an education.
Luckily, the diploma paid off and i went on to have a satisfying career.

The really cool thing about going to college at a more grown up age is ...was....it was easier to get good grades, since at that time most of the students were 25 and under, and did not have the discipline and focus that I had.

I hope you find the job market will reward all the hard work you put in to get your degree. !

[mnhtnbb]

5. If it's crazy to be determined, disciplined, and focused, then yes,

you may look back and think you were (are) a little crazy.

But maybe it's just that something's wrong with our value system to consider it crazy,
rather than to expect it to be normal for someone to believe in himself, have a dream,
and work hard to make that dream come true!

Congratulations, to you, Tobin, for working hard to fulfill your dream!

You're on the home stretch!

[Tobin S.]

12. Thank you.

Those words mean a lot to me.

[Demoiselle]

6. Congratulations, Tobin. Wonderful news and yes, BE PROUD!

[NewJeffCT]

7. Congrats on making it to your final semester

Did you need to break into Fort Knox to get money to buy the books?

[Tobin S.]

13. I had to buy all new books this semester. For three classes it was $380.

That's not too bad considering I've had to pay $300 just for one book in the past. I take a lot of classes online and they usually offer an electronic text for those courses. The text fee for those classes is $25, but I usually order a black and white, photocopied hard copy as well. That usually runs about $40 with shipping.

[CTyankee]

8. I had two unfinished undergrad degrees and luckily found a college with a program to pull them

together into one degree and I went back in my 50s and working full time. Thankfully, it was a accelerated degree program, each course 8 weeks long, going at night. I finished, waited a year, and then went back for a Master's which I loved doing! I felt sad when I came home after the Graduation Day. I loved school.

[Tobin S.]

14. I know I'm going to look back at all of the studying

and probably romanticize my college experience to some extent. Currently, I do not enjoy school and I just want to be done with it. But I'm sure I'll have waves of nostalgia associated with it in the future. I think that's the case with most people when they think back on pivotal events in their lives.

I wish I did love school. Right now it's a source of stress on my marriage because I have very little free time to spend with my wife. We're going to get by, though, and hopefully what I've done the past few years will be a source of happiness and a better life for both of us.

[CTyankee]

15. I think that going to evening classes made the difference for me....

Last edited Mon Aug 11, 2014, 08:29 AM - Edit history (1)

Two nights a week from 5:30 to 7 pm was great. I got home in time for dinner with my husband and some relaxation before bedtime. I did give up an awful lot of weekends to school but I just pushed on and got through...eyes on the prize!

[noamnety]

9. Congrats!

I am 50, and finishing up possibly my last college course. I got my grad degree (earned while working full time), but needed this to renew my certification.

I guess this is a little late for you, but for others - you can rent college text books off amazon and from other places now. One of mine for this class I was able to get electronically free from a library. I was super careful not to plug my nook into a computer during the full semester so the book would stay active - next time I plug it in, it will be expired. The other textbook I rented for $20 for the term. So much less hassle and expense than trying to find a used copy in a bookstore, then dealing with trying to resell it.

[shenmue]

10. Hooray!

[lunatica]

11. Hey Tobin

I did that when I was 48 years old and it changed my life. The decade of my 50s was the best decade of my life because I finished college. It was the happiest.

I'm not unhappy in my 60s either. I actually feel I'm wiser and I feel respected for it. If I hadn't made the moves necessary to improve my life I'd still be as unhappy as I was before. You'll be so glad you made the effort.

[davidpdx]

16. Congrads and good luck on your last term

I know the cost of those books can add up over time even if you find them used. I'm about a year older than you are and was an undergrad during the mid to late 90's before all these internet sites popped up selling used books. I think I got majorly screwed on the price of books.