FinalPaper:ReturningforaGraduateDegreeWhileWorkingaFullTimeJoband

CaringforaFamily

IamanalumnifromKeanUniversitywithanundergraduatedegreeinPsychology.After
graduatingIgotmarriedandwashappywithmypersonallifebutIsoonrealizedIwas
unhappywithhowmycareerwasntgoinginthedirectionthatIwanted,soIappliedto
graduateschoolatKeanUniversity.Igotacceptedintothepsychologicalservices
program.Iquitmyjobandwasfortunatetogetagraduateassistantshipinthe
HolocaustResourceCenter.IattendedgraduateschoolfulltimeandwasmyThesis
andtheCompsawayfrommydegreewhenlifehandedmeasweetsurprise.Iwas
pregnantwithmyfirstchild.Ialwaysplannedonfinishingwithinthe10yeartimeframe
allowedbytheUniversitybutbeingaparentwasmoretimeconsumingthenIhad
planned.Aswellastheemotionaltollittookonwantingtoputmychildsneedsbefore
myown.ManyyearspassedandIstillfeltunfulfilledinmycareer.Since10yearshad
passedandeventhoughIhadasecondchildIwasdeterminedtoreturntoKeanformy
graduatedegree.ThistimeIenteredintotheCommunicationprogram.Overtimemy
desireschangedandIthoughtCommunicationsgavemethemostopportunitytohave
thecareerIalwaysdesired.Thereamanymotivestoreturntocollegeforagraduate
degree.Aswellasmanydifficulties.

MotivesforReturningtoaUniversityforaGraduateDegree
1. Topursueanacademicinterest

2. Tolearnsomethingnew
3. Enrichment,enjoyment,selfsatisfactionandbetteringoneself
4. ChangingCareers

DifficultiesFacedbyReturningtoSchool
1. FinancialFactors
2. Academicdifficulties
3. PsychologicalFactors,suchasstressfrombalancingschool,work&family
4. Supportfromthefamily

Millionsofstudentsreturntocollegebutoftenhavenumerousresponsibilitiesto
considerwhenmakingthedecision.Asareturningadultstudenttheseresponsibilities
includemarriage/spouse,children,work,communityobligationsandcaringforelderly
parents.Adultscanalsobeconcernedaboutfittinginwiththeyoungerstudents,orthat
theymaybetooold.Ididnthavethatconcern.Ihaveaconstantthirstforlearningand
beingaroundmyyoungchildrenandtheirfriendsmakesmefeellikeIcanstaycurrent.
Withtheunstableeconomicfuture,moreadultsarereturningtoschool.They,like
myself,maywanttopursueanewcareerorrealizealifelongdream.

Goingbacktocollegeiseasiernowthaniteverwas.Manycollegesanduniversities
offerstudentservicestohelptheindividualgetenrolledaswellaschildcarecenters,
flexiblecourseschedulingwithclassesonenightaweekoronline.Iwasevenableto

takeanacceleratedcourseinthesummerandcompleteaclassin6weeks.Some
peopledecidetoreturntocollegebutneverleavetheirhouse.Onlinedegreeprograms
areavalidoptionwhendecidingtoreturntoschoolforagraduatedegree.Ilookedinto
theUniversityofPhoenix.Theyhadmanyprogramsandclasschoicestochoosefrom
aswellasallthebenefitsofnothavingtocommutetoacampus.
5ReasonsWhyMomsandOnlineDegreesareaGoodMatch
1. Youdonthavetoworryaboutagedifferencesoranydifferencesforthatmatter.
Whenyouareinteractingwiththeinstructorandtheothersstudentsthroughthe
computeryouhavenoreasontobeselfconscious.
2. Scheduleflexibility.Inmostonlinecourses,thereareassignmentsyou'll
completeatyourownpace,whichmeansyoucanpickthebestworktimefor
you,orreschedulearoundfamilythingsthatcomeup.
3. Notransportationcostortime.
4. Youwillmeetotherstudentsfromacrossthecountryandevenaroundtheworld.
Youcanhavetheopportunitytoexperienceothercultures.
5. Sometimesteachershavelimitedofficehoursonacampusbutwithonline
instructorstheymayhavemoretimetocommunicatewiththestudentsviaemail
orinstantmessaging.
Ienjoymeetingmyprofessorsfacetofaceandcommunicatinginpersonwiththeother
studentsinmyclassintheclassroom.Ihavemetpeopleofvariousages,interests,job
experienceandlifeexperiencesatKeanUniversity.Ididnthavetogofarfromhometo
meetpeoplefromdifferentculturesandbackgrounds.


OneofthemajordifficultiesfacingMomsgoingbacktocollegeisstress.Thereare
severalwaystocombatstressandreachyourgoal.
1. Takeyourtime.Donttaketoomanycoursespersemester.Ifyouareworking
fulltimeandhaveafamily,onecourseasemesterisallthatyoumaybeableto
handle.Dontrushtheprocessifitgoingtoaffectalltheotheraspectsofyour
life.
2. Timemanagement.Manythingshavetobeaccomplishedinaday,aweekora
month.Planoutgoalsthatareattainableandfollowthescheduleyouputin
place.Youaretheonlyonewhoknowswhatyouarecapableofdoingandin
whattimeframethatisachievable.
3. Takeadvantageofyourresources.Ifyourspouseofferstohelpoutmore,use
thattoyouradvantage.Iffriendsorfamilyareabletohelpdontbeshytotake
thehelptheycanprovide.
4. Financialunderstanding.Amomneedstoknowhowshewillpayforthedegree.
Lookintoscholarships,loansoremployertuitionreimbursementprogramsat
yourplaceofbusiness.
Ihaveimplementedallfourofthesefactorsintomylifeandmyabilitytocontinuemy
education.Ihaveasupportivespousewhonotonlysupportsmydecisiontogoto
schoolbutsupportsourfamilybydoingmoreforourhomeanddaughters.Ialsoam
takingonecourseasemester.IknowitisthelongwaybutIcouldntdoitotherwise.
Timemanagementisagreatpartofmylife.IknowwhenIhavethingsdue,sowhenI

amofffromworkandthekidsareinschoolIusethatfreetimetodedicateonthework
neededformyclass.Andlastlythefinancialaspecthasbeendifficultbutfortunatelymy
employerincreasedtheemployeetuitionreimbursementthisyeartopayfortwoclasses
ayear.
Goingtograduateschoolwhenyouareawife,amotherandyouworkfulltimeisa
fulfillingandattainablegoal.Ihavemetmanynewpeopleandhavelearnedand
experiencedthingsthatwouldnthavebeenpossiblewithoutgoingbacktoschool.I
knowthatItakingtimeawayfrommyfamilybutIamsurethatIamsettingagood
exampleformydaughtersandhelpingmymarriagebyattainingmygoalssothatmy
husbandandImaybothbenefitinthefuture.

References
1. Scala,MarisaA.(1996),GoingBacktoSchool:Participation,Motivesand
ExperiencesofOlderAdultsinanUndergraduateClassroom.Educational
Gerontology,v22,n8,p74773
2. OShea,SandStone,C(2011),TransformationsandSelfDiscovery:
MatureAgeWomensReflectionsonReturningtoUniversityStudy.Studiesin
Education,v33,n3,p273288
3. Parzen,M(2010),PersonalInvestmentinHigherEducation,v13,n4,12pp.
4. Hardin,CJ(2008),AdultStudentsinHigherEducation:APortraitofTransitions.
NewDirectionsforHigherEducation,n144,p4957

5. Jang,SYMerriam,S(2004),KoreanCultureandtheReentryMotivationsof
UniversityGraduatedWomen,v54n4,p273290