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Page 3 • Tuesday, October 21, 2003
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MO. POSTMASTER: Send address
TX 77843-1111.
University in the Division ofStsdeil
:ed McDonald Building. Newsmou
: http://www.thebattalion.net
sementbyThe Battalion. For®
ertising,call 845-0569. Advertise
daythroughFriday.Fax:845-26ft
student to pick up a single coffil
60 perschoolyear.fSOfortW
by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, k
ould wear a favorite
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should wear their
will be provided by
tnd 2004
,&M University Yearbook 1
By Tori Foster
THE BATTALION
At the age of 52, Valerie Sorenson didn’t know what to do when
she got fired from her job. Sorenson’s employers decided they wanted
someone with a bachelor’s degree to fill her position.
After a discussion with her husband, she did what many other
adults are doing — she decided to go back to college.
Many adults are learning how to adjust as they return to college.
With children and work among their many daily conflicts, these “non-
traditional” students learn to overcome their fears and take a step back
into their past.
After graduating from high school, Sorenson left Corpus Christi,
Texas, to attend the University of Houston to pursue her undergradu
ate degree.
"My dad and I had a deal that if I made below a ‘C’ I would go back
home,” Sorenson, a junior education major, said. “I got up there and like
many other freshmen I played. I ended up having to go home.”
Upon returning to Corpus Christi, Sorenson tried to continue her
education and enrolled in a junior college. Soon after, she got married
and was forced to put her education on pause.
“1 did well there, but I got married and got what they call my ‘MRS
degree,”’ Sorenson said. “We eventually got divorced five years later
and I tried to start going back to school and taking classes that inter
ested me.”
When Sorenson remarried, she moved to College Station in pursuit
of a job opportunity with a local radio station. After losing her job she
began to have to look into other alternatives.
“When I lost my job I went through a period where I was down,”
Sorenson said. “My husband and I sat down and looked at our
finances and decided we could make it if I went back to school. My
husband knew how important my education was to me.”
Sorenson enrolled in Texas A&M to put the finishing touches on
her education. As she returned to the classroom her husband took over
running her house.
“Since I went back to school my husband takes care of everything,”
Sorenson said. “He does all the shopping, cleaning, laundry and even
cooks meals. Because of expenses we didn’t want to pay for parking,
so he drives me to school and picks me up. He’s my chauffeur.”
With the help and support of her husband, Sorenson is able to jug
gleworking part-time and going to school full-time.
“I can’t say enough about my husband, he makes it so easy for me,”
Sorenson said. “I wouldn’t be able to do all this without him. 1 haven’t
seen the inside of a grocery store in months.”
Walking on the A&M campus, Sorenson said she has been
impressed with how friendly people are.
“My first day here I was lost and didn’t know where I was,”
, Sfimon said. “I had a map in my hands and I was surprised how
many people stopped and asked me if they could help.”
Sorenson said she benefits from visiting with the younger mem
bers of the student body.
“I enjoy the experience of talking to younger people and hearing their
thoughts and ideas,” Sorenson said. “I sometimes see myself in their
eyes the way I was when I was their age — so naive, so unworldly and
even a little scared in some cases.”
Lea Price-Jeter’s hands are also full with a husband, five children
and running her family’s ranch business. As her children got older, she
decided to return to college.
“I decided to go back to college because I had always wanted to
complete what I had started,” said Price-Jeter, a sophomore English
major. “I was unable to finish (originally) because of extensive travel
requirements with my career.”
Late nights and early mornings are study time. With her family sup
porting her endeavors, she manages to keep up with the grind of being
a mom and a student.
“My family comes first, and I try to keep my class schedule within
the time that they are at school or work,” Price-Jeter said. “My husband
is great. He helps out with breakfast and lunches. Everyone helps in the
mornings.”
Despite taking classes with them, Price-Jeter tries to remain apart
from the younger students and not interject her life experiences.
“I know I am at a different stage of life than most students,” Price-
Jeter said. “I would not want to hamper their exploration on life, which
is one of the things that the college experience is all about. I am here
to further my education and younger students are here for the whole
package. You attend college to receive an education but also for the
social life.”
Geography professor Jan Bertness said she admires older students
because she understands the hardships they experience.
“I admire them for many reasons,” said Bertness. “On top of a very
busy schedule, they are often scared they won’t be able to compete. It
is a real act of courage to come back to school.”
Bertness said students whose ages are higher than the typical college
age face disadvantages when they add school to their daily schedules.
“With families, jobs and households to run you have a high
demand of time and energy,” Bertness said.
Even though these students face high obstacles, Bertness says these
obstacles do not seem to affect their performance in the classroom.
“They are some of my best students,” Bertness said. “They are
always in class and attentive, even on Fridays. They have more matu
rity and seriousness and see class as something they need.”
Sorenson said she is happy she is continuing her education.
“When you go to college, take advantage of all the experiences, but
study,” Sorenson said. “Don’t wait until you are in your 50s to go back.
You need to have the college experience when you are young. That’s
when you get the most out of it.”
Sorenson said anybody who has a second chance at a higher edu
cation should definitely take advantage of it.
“If you do like me and don’t do (college) when you’re young and
you get the chance to go back you should take advantage of this and
go (back),” Sorenson said. “Don’t think that because you are 50,60 or
70 that you can’t do this. You can.”
MSC CIA presents...
Cults
on Campus:
The Appeal;
The Danger
Heaven’s Gate. Branch Davidians.
al-Qaeda. Satanism. Ritual abuse.
Mass suicide.
Their link? CUltS.
Think you’re safe on campus?
Think again.
Featuring The American Family
Foundation’s Ron Loomis
Tuesday, October 21,
Stark Galleries, 7:00 pm
FREE
Questions? call 845-1515,
ask for MSC CIA
Persons with disabilities, please
call (979) 845-1515 to inform
us of your special needs.