Back in school.

[Billy]

Back in school and loving it! I have been out of school for a few months trying to repair a broken relationship, and to also spend time with my boys while they were out of school. Well, I went back to school tonight, all my old classmates were happy to see me, it felt real good. My oldest son is back home from a summer of traveling, I picked him up from the airport this afternoon, now my heart is at peace, all my children are home.

I share all this with you, because all of you are so special to me, I am glad we have each other to communicate with, because sometimes, you are my only friends, and the only people I can talk to and relate with, thank you.

How many of you are going to school, and for what reasons? Do you enjoy school? What do you plan on doing when you complete your schooling? And..................I almost forgot...........................
Is anyone up for a hike? I have some freedom now, my oldest is home!

I think I'll do something challenging and fun, early Thursday morning....and ......I can go running again!
Sorry for all the excitement, but I have been trapped at home for far too long.

[Snick33]

I'm not sure where this thread started, or where it's going, but the last of my kidlets has just finished college. I had two in at once for a while, one in University of Michigan and one in Michigan State. It got so I was afraid to answer E-Mail or phone calls from them, it always was about money, and it always involved Western Union and impending disasters.

I remember my tuition, books, room and board were less than $3,500.00 in 1964, now it amounts to about $25,000.00 a year. It's too much, way too much. And as if that's not a big enough kick, a 4 year degree only gets you an entry level job at best. We made it, they worked, I worked a 2nd job for a while. It's funny though, the hair still stands up on the back of my neck when they call. They seem to sense the fear and premise all calls and E-Mails with: "I'm don't need any money", I just wanted to see how you're feeling . . . . .

[JimmineyGrl]

I like being able to spout off in whatever direction I see fit at the time

I guess I didn't think of it that way. In CIS, I have not had the opportunity to write many papers, so the most interesting ones were research papers for english where I could select a non-computer related topic. Don't get me wrong, I love my career and my degree but it might have been different if my circumstances were different. (not having a child to support) For the time being, I will have to be content with keeping psychology and philosophy as a hobby.

Oooh! Or maybe by the time I start my own business, I will have devised a way to combine all of my passions!

[Abe]

Back in school and loving it! I have been out of school for a few months trying to repair a broken relationship, and to also spend time with my boys while they were out of school. Well, I went back to school tonight, all my old classmates were happy to see me, it felt real good. My oldest son is back home from a summer of traveling, I picked him up from the airport this afternoon, now my heart is at peace, all my children are home.

"In praising or loving a child, we love and praise not that which is, but that which we hope for." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Awesome Billy! I am happy for you.

Kids and college. I have four kids, two are on their own now and ever since they were little I encouraged them to go to college. Do better than there ol' man. Do they listen. : Nope. My eldest stepped out on her own to pursue life her way and my second is serving at the Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona.

And I have two younger ones. Age 12 and starting the 6th grade and age 6, starting the 1st grade. Maybe they'll listen to me.

I have a little college under my belt, having attended Yavapai Community College. I keep telling myself to get off my behind and go back, but alas, as I said in another post, I am lazy.

[Billy]

olesma - I am going to take your advice and start hunting down some scholarships to apply for.


Snick33-You are a great Dad to have helped your kids get through school, they are fortunate to have such a loving Dad.

Matt- That really sucks about your situation, I wish I knew of some way to help you out; seems pretty unfair.

Abe- Thanks

CindyC- 2 years from now huh? That's great, you'll love it!

To all the procrastinators - I guess some of you need that adrenaline rush to drive you to your greatest accomplishments. You know, it's through adversities, pressure, and trials, that we usually end up accomplishing great things, then we look back and think "how did I do it?"

Lizard - congratulations

[olesma]

If you are going to hunt for scholarships, here is a good place to begin:

First look up ( dead link removed ) at the Phoenix Public Library (most of the larger city libraries have the same books as well)

Then look up ( dead link removed )

Then look up ( dead link removed )

I guarantee that one or more of those books will have something for you. Primarily look for a book that is a big catalog of scholarhip/grant/award opportuities, preferably cross-referenced by subject or eligibility requirements - also, search out the biggest, thickest one. They are all fairly comprehensive, and there is a lot of overlap. So if you get the biggest one, chances are it has all the references the smaller books also have. All the advice books are the same too so if you read one, you've read them all.

Check out a book or two - then go through the index and find every possible qualification that even has a chance of applying to you (there will be a lot so set asside a good day or two to do all this). Just list out all the pages, then go through one at a time and see if you come close to their criteria. Then, create a template letter or two and start sending letters.

The whole process can take a couple of weeks - and you may not see any of the money till spring or even next fall, but you WILL see the money. Guarantee it. It just takes a little work and a little patience.

Let me know if you need any help. I've been there done that and am more than willing to lend a hand.

[Billy]

Great, thank you olesma, I am going to spend a good couple days at the library for sure, and I will let you know how it goes. If I need your help, you'll definitely hear from me, I will take you up on that offer thank you so much.

You know, I'm glad I posted a topic about school, it's helped me out, and maybe helped others in finding shared interests, concerns and frustrations.

[Sredfield]

My daughter is a sophomore, and getting ready to head back to IN next Saturday. Financial aid is just the ability to borrow more money. Her mother and I started saving for college when she was born. When we divorced, one of the agreements was that the saving would continue. Her tuition bill is due Wednesday, it will be the end of the savings, but not having to borrow for 3 of 8 semesters was a help. Same for my son, savings are in the bank to cover a share of it.

There was never any talk or even thought that they would not go to college. I know that they grow up and make their own decisions, but I've done all I can to make it a fact of their life. I told then "college will be the most fun of your life" and my daughter regularly reminds me that I am right. So I hope her brother picks up on that. I also remind them that "you know what comes after college--work!"

My unsolicited advice to you younger folks, with kids, start some sort of savings plan, just a bit more than you think you can afford. As my career advanced I often upped the ante on this, and now it's paying off. I'm sure there are things parents can do that will have a bigger long term affect on a child's life, but getting them set up with a college degree is a biggy.

$.02 worth that no one asked for.

[olesma]

You're absolutely correct. Planning ahead is the best way to cover yourself.

Most kids don't listen, but getting good grades is also the biggest help out there. If you get good grades you qualify more readily for a good scholarship that just might pay tuition anyway.

My parents never emphasized that with me or even mentioned the possibility. It was just assumed that they would pay for my education. Then, right before I graduated from high school, my dad was laid off and he ended up declaring bankruptcy a couple years later. I had to fund my way through undergrad work - thus the hefty loans bill.

Now he has a good job and has assisted me greatly with my graduate studies. So, parents can be a big help - but you can't count on their help being 100% available.

There is just no substitute for planning ahead and for hard work and good grades. That's the way the game is played.

[Snick33]

We started saving when the kids were born, but educational expenses far exceeded predictions, even accounting for inflation; and my daughter and oldest son went to school for 5 years to complete the degrees they were interested in, not the expected 4 years.

[mttgilbert]

4 year degrees are kind of going by the way-side. so many students can't afford to go full time so it ends up taking longer to complete all the courses. Very few people I know have gotten, or plan on getting their degrees in less than 5 years.

[Billy]

My oldest is already working towards trade school, he wants to go into computer gaming, and attend Hi Tech Institute in West Peoria. He will be applying for an internship this year, his junior year of high school, and he will be working in the field of computer gaming for the next two years at EVIT (East Valley institute of Technology). My son amazes me, I was too involved in his schooling in the past, riding his butt all the time to get good grades, which only caused him to rebel against me. In his Freshman year of high school, I pulled back and left him alone, he almost flunked out that year. His sophomore year he struggled to bring his GPA back up, even taking a class of math in summer school, but HE did it! He is back on track and more excited than ever about his future, I was doing too much for him before, and pushing him too hard. He was an honors student and a top athlete back then, now he's simply a good student with a much better attitude and with a great outlook on life and his future. I'm blessed to have learned to step back, before losing him to his Dad in PA, or worse yet a torn apart relationship with him. I'm glad I learned my lesson, before it was too late to repair.

College isn't always the way to go, and as I have learned, education has to be an internal desire, not a demand.