I recently spent an evening with several friends from high school while celebrating our 30 year class reunion. It was just suppose to be a relaxing night of catching up on the past 30 years, sharing old stories and having fun. What I didn't expect was to actually take part in an adult learning experience, however that's exactly what I did.
I thought we all had a common background in our high school years together, but what I learned was that we were all dealing with different home lives and circumstances. I just assumed that we were all from the same or similar small towns, so our lives must have been pretty much the same. How wrong I was. One friend was sharing what her home life was like and how people perceived her because of it, and made the most profound statement. Without even knowing it she made a permanent learning mark in my memory when she said, "I finally had to realize that I didn't have to be the person that other people saw me as." WOW ... what an amazing realization for her and one that we all should come to grips with. As I sat there the rest of the night I realized just how often we allow the opinions of others to determine our own value. I realized that the reason I waited 25 years to return to school to complete my undergraduate work was because I perceived that people thought I didn't NEED it. However, after a "break" to raise my children, I came to the realization that I NEEDED it for ME!
My passion is to help people achieve their goals and dreams in life through Adult Education towards any end that they desire. I hope that I can help them see that "They don't have to be the person that other people see them as ... and they can be anything they want!" It is NEVER too late to start! I returned to school to complete my Bachelor's Degree at the age of 45, a friend of mine returned to school to become a Nurse at about the same time, yet another friend is pursuing a flight attendant career at the age of 48, and yet another is working towards her Associates Degree. Regardless of your goals, or your background, or what might have held you back in the past, today is the day to realize that you CAN make those dreams a reality.
If fear wasn't a factor, what would you want to do with your life? Now that you know what you want, don't let anyone or anything keep you from going for it! Life is too short to spend it regretting what you didn't do, rather take advantage of every opportunity and seize the moment to "Become the Person you Always Wanted to Be!"
I can't wait until the next time our group gets together to see what we have accomplished next. There is no end to the possibilities, and if any group of people I know are capable of doing great and mighty things ... it is my group of friends from the class of 1981!
