Age not a factor for college ‘seniors’
Denise Watson started taking classes for an associate’s degree in business management at age 18, but life got in the way.
Right after high school, she was already working full-time while taking classes at Butler County Community College. She would end up getting married and having five children, and her studying fell by the wayside.
Now at age 56, she expects to graduate from BC3 in the spring with her degree in business management. Despite the gap in her studies, Watson said she always planned to return to school to get her degree.
“The biggest thing is I never gave up,” said Watson, a U.S. postal worker from Evans City. “I work classes in around my schedule, and USPS has paid for them. I am a firm believer that if that opportunity is there, you have to take advantage where you can.”
There are 25 students age 55 or older enrolled in credit courses this fall at BC3. Sixteen of those students live in Butler County, and of those 16, about eight are seeking a degree or a certificate at the college, according to information provided by the college.
Slippery Rock University has 505 students between the ages of 35 and 64, and 12 age 65 and up this fall semester.
While Watson has been chipping away at credits for years at BC3, she said she has been working around her schedule, which is well-suited to community college.
“There is so much help. I have utilized the tutoring at BC3, so if you need the extra help, it’s there,” Watson said. “It has been a good experience — it’s never too late to go back.”
John Cater, 62, of Wayne Township, Lawrence County, enrolled at SRU after being laid off from his longtime office job at age 60. He earned an associate degree from Penn State about 40 years ago, he said.
Cater said he was nervous to return to a school environment after being away for so long, but the online format brought about by the coronavirus pandemic actually made him feel more comfortable. He would earn his bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management in December 2021.
“I never went on campus to classes, I went online because it was during COVID, but I was already prepared because of my job,” Cater said. “I chose Slippery Rock because they are one of 23 schools in the country that offer nonprofit management.”
Conversely, Watson did not favor the online environment, but she managed to soldier through those classes.
“One of the biggest challenges was when I went back this last time with COVID, and the classes I needed were online, because I definitely learn better in-person,” Watson said. “So adjusting to that was the biggest challenge.”
Cater said he found only a little more than 20 colleges offering the nonprofit management program across the country. Because of its rarity, he had classes with people from other states, made possible by the online format.
Cater said he enjoyed the variety of people he met through the program, and the unique classes he took to complete his degree.
“One of the things they do, is you have to design a nonprofit from beginning to end,” Cater said. “Because of this class, we were able to learn about all the parts of a nonprofit. It was nice to see how it all comes together.”
Having been in management positions over the years, Watson enjoyed taking classes that taught her more in-depth knowledge about subjects she has encountered while on jobs.
“My human resources class was pretty interesting,” Watson said. “Employment law too, I have been in management for 16 years, so I have seen different things related to that.”
Watson said she has gotten a lot of support from her family and children throughout her journey to earning her degree. Watson also said she has sat next to friends of her children in classes at BC3, which has added to her good experience at the school.
Balancing school with her work and personal lives has been demanding for Watson, but she said her pursuit of education may not end after walking across the stage for her associate degree next year.
“This is the goal for now, but I know I will probably end up back in the classroom,” Watson said. “I really love to keep learning.”
Cater said he had an entirely different outlook on higher education this go around compared to his attitude in his youth.
“When I went the first time, it was. ‘How can I go in and find a job to make money?’” Cater said. “This time is, ‘What can I learn?’ I had this vision that I wanted to help people and it was, ‘What can I learn to help me do that?’ That focus makes school much more interesting.”
Cater’s goal of working with nonprofits has also shaped his decision-making. Although he could perform physical labor for organizations that help communities, knowledge will never leave him, even in old age.
“I am looking at this education as something I can use until I die,” Cater said. “I set myself up with the skills that I can use to help people until I’m in my 80s.”
