Adult Education: College from the Perspective of a ‘Retiree’

Here’s my story: I’m a 48-year-old Latino male and I grew up in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In that U.S. Territory, people are educated in the Spanish language. My family consists of my fantastic stepfather who raised me since I was 5 years of age, my mother, sister, two brothers, two stepsisters, and a stepbrother. I’m the youngest one of all. When I graduated high school I managed to qualify for a STEM program at the University of Puerto Rico, however, due to the lack of support from my family and the inability to secure an income or obtain funds, I was not able to fund my education or make a living on my own, therefore I joined the military.

From the age of 18 to the age of 41 I lived my life as an active duty service member. During my time on active duty, I manage to obtain two associates degrees. Despite this, when it came to obtaining my Bachelor’s degree in the STEM field, finding time was nearly impossible. I put school on the back-burner until years later, as many adults do. After my retirement from my military service, I decided to embark on a career in the civilian sector. At this point, I needed a change in my life. Once again, I gravitated to the STEM field and was able to use the GI Bill to fund my living expenses and my college tuition as a full-time student.

The problems I faced as a military retiree, returning to the classroom, differed greatly from the problems during my youth. This was my wake-up call. My biggest challenge in this transition was
enduring physical separation from my wife, as she worked overseas completing her career as an educator. In addition to my external challenges, I had to deal with physical and psychological traumas due to exposure to highly traumatic events in combat. I dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and surviving several explosions that induced traumatic brain injuries (TBI). I also had to contend with undiagnosed attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These were my real-life problems, but they did not hinder me from achieving my life-time goals of becoming an educated individual.

Pursuing an undergraduate degree was a great therapeutic tool for my issues with PTSD, TBI, and ADHD. It gave me a reason to refocus and show myself that I am disciplined and still an asset to the working community. My future employment is not limited to just a few things. With a degree in General Chemistry, I am now able to branch into various fields, and I feel strengthened to take on new challenges.

There was a 25-year gap between my high school and college education. During my high-school years, I was not exposed to the intermediate-levels of math. As a result, I feared math greatly, when I enrolled in college. Here’s the truth: I failed Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 several times. I cannot begin to tell you that this was not my first failure in life, but it certainly impacted my confidence moving forward. It wasn’t until I remembered the reason why I returned to school in the first place that I realized I wasn’t ready to give up. I had to overcome feeling embarrassed, being the oldest person in all my classes, asking my younger peers for help, and being transparent with my instructors who were often younger than me. It took time, but I persevered and finally completed the requirements. Finally, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, but this was not the end. I have not stopped learning. I will continue to pursue my dreams because I know I will succeed.

Here’s my advice for those who can relate to my story:
● Take that first step.
● Enjoy the process.
● Be open-minded to receive guidance.
● Do not isolate from the younger students.
● Establish relationships with students and faculty.
● Choose a subject matter that will boost your confidence.
● Don’t be afraid to ask questions about what you don’t know.
● Lastly, don’t compete with anyone but yourself. You are there to improve yourself.
I wish you all the best and I hope that sharing my story inspired you to achieve your goals of
academic success.