MB Writes: Returning to College Following A Long Absence: Is It Worth The Wait?

Going to college is a goal that many people have for a variety of reasons: some have their future careers all planned out before they even graduate from high school and eagerly enroll in the classes that will help them get their ideal job, while others simply want to experience what life is like being out on their own for the first time. Overall, obtaining higher education is extremely valuable because it increases earning potential; if someone delays their enrollment in college, they will have a more difficult time ever going back to school.

College graduates are much more marketable than students who only have a high school education. Attending college helps people become more well rounded and prepared to work with others. Students gain important communication and leadership skills if they go to college and get involved with clubs or other activities. Students also learn how to be responsible and organized in order to keep up with a demanding schedule and workload. These skills are necessary for success in a demanding career as well. Coincidentally, the more demanding a career is, the more money they can earn when the career is one that requires higher education. More importantly, students gain extensive knowledge and receive specialized training in a specific field of interest. They will be able to apply their knowledge in the workforce, which is very valuable to employers.

Some students graduate from high school and have no interest in college. Occasionally they find a job that pays more right out of school, so they don’t need to attend college. They might need the money, so the job sounds more appealing than attending college. Other students enjoy partying and are unable to concentrate on schoolwork. Sometimes, circumstances intervene, such as an unplanned pregnancy or a death in the family. In these instances, I agree that attending college wouldn’t be the right choice.

Sometimes people are unable to go to college when they graduate from high school, because it is so expensive; families may not have enough money to invest in their children’s education. When people can’t go to college for these reasons, or they simply put off college for any personal reason, they find that it is very difficult to ever go back to school. Whether they never saved up enough money, or they got wrapped up in other aspects of life (like getting married and having kids) people get stuck in their routines and have trouble rearranging their lives and schedules to accommodate a college education.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the proportion of the undergraduate population that has delayed enrollment has increased over the past decade, in part due to the growing numbers of non-traditional students (Bozick, DeLuca 2005). Based on personal experience with being a nontraditional student and returning to school after a long delay, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to go back to college. I graduated from high school in 1976 but didn’t pursue college. My family didn’t teach me to value a college education (my parents were very old-fashioned and didn’t feel that girls should go to college). I began working at Wauna Paper Mill. I worked there and elsewhere for 13 years and returned to school in 1989. I graduated with a Registered Nursing Degree in 1992 and have attempted several times to return
to college to earn my Bachelor’s Degree.

One reason that it has been so difficult for me to get my Bachelor’s Degree is that I have a well paying job. It would be hard to sacrifice the time and money that I could be earning during the time that I would take off to go to school. Plus, I am very intimidated by new technology that I have never been trained to use before. For example, I have never written a paper on the computer, and it is very overwhelming. Lastly, a huge reason why it has been hard to go back school is that I have a family that demands all of my free time and energy.

In retrospect, I wish that I had gone directly to college when I graduated from high school, or at least finished a BSN when I was in college the first time. Ultimately, if I do receive my degree, it will be worth the wait. I will have more options when it comes to employment, and I will be able to get retirement benefits, which I am not currently receiving due to my lack of education. Once again, obtaining higher education is extremely valuable when it comes to increasing earning potential. Unfortunately, I did delay my enrollment in college, but now I am back in school and know that the end result will be worth the wait.