This spring, Jeanette King began the program in the Youth Leadership concentration. She is one of our many "non-traditional" students returning to college after few years of life experience away from academia. The residency was filled with events such as classes, meals, fields trips, and special presentations. Pictured is Jeanette Kin with Jim Ellis at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Here is her reflection:
Approximately 22 years after completing a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice I found myself sitting in a college classroom at Eastern University, East Falls Center for my first residency experience. My first thought was residency – I’m not attending medical school only doctors and other profession types do that. I had no clue!
On Friday, February 11, 2011, I experienced Day One of my very first residency. It was nothing like what I had envisioned. After meeting some of the people my fears and anxiety lessened. Well… I survived Day One and quickly made the decision I can do this.
Saturday, February 12th - Day Two I shared in the Welcome Back Dinner where I met students from the Community Development and Arts in Transformation concentrations along with those following the Youth Leadership track. What a great time I had meeting and talking with former graduates and second and third year students! No, residency was nothing like what I expected.
By our third gathering I was definitely enjoying what I had decided to embark upon – a new career!
All of the students I was with from Wednesday, February 16th – Friday, February 18th, were persons I had only meet via the discussion board. It was nice to finally put a face with a name.
Tuesday night I participated in the Faculty Fireside at BuildABridge International. What a wonderful illuminating experience! The student success without a doubt is because of the tremendous commitment and dedication of the faculty and staff.
What many people do not realize about the Boomer generation is the fire we still have burning to do positive and productive things. I am a student also~I'm completing my undergraduate work and it is not easy sometimes because things are different in the academic world.
ReplyDeleteThere is a movement among our generation to do as our passions dictate. This is a great example of the results of operating out that passion. Thanks for sharing it.