Women Shining Magazine Women Shining Fall 2018 | Page 36

Return To School
The fear of starting or going back to school closes the age gap!
I was one of many adults that chose to return
to school after many years and I can speak from
personal experience and the other ‘mature
students’ that the fear is real.
The fears that I experienced reminded me of
those expressed by my children. “I don’t want
to go!”, “I don’t know anybody.”, “What if
I don’t like it?”, “What if I am not smart
enough.”, “I have to go everyday?”.
E ach September, all over the globe we
see a new group of children who are introduced
into our education system.
Dressed in their new outfits, new backpacks, and
lunch bags, they bravely head off to school with
promises of new friends and new experiences.
It can almost be described as a right of passage,
that brings with it more responsibility to learn
and achieve.
In more recent years we have seen increased
numbers of adults returning to finish or expand
their education.
Is going to school easier
as an adult or a child?
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I first realized that I had ‘FEAR’ when I heard
myself justifying another reason why I wanted
to go BUT could not go at this time because…
time, money, the kids, all the fears jumbled
around in my head.
Much like a 12-step program I had to address
one fear at a time starting with admitting I
was afraid.