Diary of a mature student - Chapter 4

Sept 19 - The Group

Today I met with my group to discuss possible topics for our experiential project.

Colin brought me and Chris into the group and I brought Franzi and Angela. Interestingly, four out of the five of us are mature students: Colin is coming back to school after taking a break and changing his program; Franzi is a social work student from Germany; Angela has got as many credits as she can from North Island College and is coming to UVic to finish her degree.  And then, of course, there's me.  Don't know much about Chris yet ...

We're thinking of doing a project with refugees as a focus.  Colin has a contact with a refugee support group; I'm taking notes and organizing our progress (surprise, surprise).

And I used my new backpack.  Now, if only I could figure out where to put my phone so I can reach it when I need it.

Sept 22 - I am so pumped!

Got my first assignment back this morning.  Not only did I get a tick mark (which means I passed), but I also got a Good (which means I did better than just a pass).  Whoohoo!

And, I realized today that I actually no longer have to think about how to get from the classroom to the bus stop across campus.

And, pockets are the answer to the phone.

I am a student!

Diary of a mature student - Chapter 3

Sept 8 - O. M. G.

Today we actually started discussing ethics.  I found myself grinning in class as the ideas starting bursting in my brain like the bubbles in champagne.

When I got home, I told Tom that I felt like I had drunk six cups of coffee.  I was so excited!

Sept 15 - Settling in

Five classes now.  I'm beginning to recognize some of the people in the class; we say hello and even talk to each other about the material!  I have found a third person for my 5-person group project.  I'm beginning to understand some of the ethical theories.  And ... I finally got my coursepack.

The last two weeks I've been wandering about the campus trying to find the best place to study.  I think I've finally settled on the Quiet Floor in the library. 

I have underestimated the time it will take to do my weekly assignments.  Plan was to spend a couple of extra hours on campus after class on Fridays, read the texts, and do the work.  Tried that today and took all that time just for the readings!  Reset ...

Tried to use the computers on campus for my assignments, but they're just not right.  The tech in the C.A.L.L. Facility told me that if my own computer was set up perfectly, I might want to use it instead of the university computers.  When I asked what perfectly meant, he said, perfectly set up for me.  Exactly.

They make good chili at the Student Union Building.

I need to buy a backpack.

Diary of a mature student - Chapter 2

Sept 6 - First day of class.

Well, I did it.

Looks as if the class is going to be as interesting as I hoped.  It felt pretty comfortable to be in the classroom and to participate in the discussion.  And, after the class, one of the other students came over to ask if I would be in his experiential group later on in the semester!

Afterwards I wandered down to the computer Help Desk to ask a question related to email.  Never did talk to them.  Instead, the tech in charge of the C.A.L.L. (computer assisted language lab) Facility gave me an orientation on the student system, answered all of my questions (including some I hadn't even known to ask), and sent me on my way with a much better understanding of how to navigate the system.

Checked in with the bookstore - the coursepack is still not available for my course.  And I have homework already!

Diary of a mature student - Chapter 1

Aug 10 - I'm finding that taking one UVic class in each of the next two semesters is complicating my life.

Already I have arranged our winter vacation around Reading Week so as not to miss any more classes than are absolutely necessary.  Instead of a longer cruise, it's a quick trip to LA and a 7 day cruise into Mexico.

I've had to decline September shifts with Victoria Tourism so as not to fill every day of the week with appointments (see Busy, busy).

And now I need to call the Arts Club in Vancouver to rearrange dates on some of our season's tickets, and I'm still going to have to miss some classes in order to get to the shows. 

Maybe I'm overthinking this ...

Maybe I'm just nervous about this new experience ...

Aug 16 - Paid my first semester tuition on Monday.

Yesterday the book lists for first semester classes were released by the Bookstore.  With a sense of deja vu,  I learned that the coursepack required for PHIL 232 was submitted late by the prof so won't be available for purchase until the first week of classes.  Shades of Loyalist College ...

Went to the campus anyway with my friend.  She picked up her books.  We went to the kiosk in the University Centre and activated our OneCards.  Yay!  After Aug 20th I can travel on the bus for "free" because my tuition includes $81 for the bus pass.

Checked out a couple of the buildings where we'll have classes, and toured the library.

Everyone was so nice to us!  And so patient with our never-ending questions: the Bookstore staff; the folks at the OneCard wicket; the computer guy in the Clearihue Building who helped me set up my UVic WiFi. 

Sept 1 - Orientation Day for Mature and Transfer Students. 

I made it to the bus stop up the street just as the (earlier) bus was pulling away, which meant waiting another 15 minutes for the bus I had planned to catch.  Something about that wait brought all the anxiety I didn't know I was feeling to the surface.  I got butterflies in my stomach; I needed to pee; I worried that I had demagnetized my bus pass by holding it too close to my phone; did I have any money if the card didn't work? Finally the bus arrived, and with it, my anxiety started to wane.  Then my friend texted me:  I'll meet you at the Quad.  And again:  Oh, I think we're supposed to meet at the University Centre.  And again:  No, I misread - it is the Quad.  Maybe nerves are the norm ...

My friend (who is in her 40's) and I decided that we were old enough to be the parents (grandparents?) of all the other mature students in our group. We also both agreed that it's way less complicated to go to university as a mature adult with a sense of who you are, than to go as an 18 year old who is entering university at the same time as leaving home and leaving the protected environment of high school.  I actually heard much of what was said by the various university reps. 

And I got swag!

And guess who I ran into on campus?

The Grad and the Undergrad.

 Classes start Wednesday ...