{"id":11813,"date":"2014-08-27T12:09:27","date_gmt":"2014-08-27T16:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/?p=11813"},"modified":"2014-08-27T12:09:27","modified_gmt":"2014-08-27T16:09:27","slug":"joining-the-back-to-school-gang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/allin\/2014\/08\/27\/joining-the-back-to-school-gang\/","title":{"rendered":"Joining the back to school gang"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"I'm<\/a>

I’m taking on something new just like Miss Cicely Clark did in 1942, joining The Women’s Timber Corpsas part of the war effort. (Photo by Horace Abrahams\/Keystone Features\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the perks of working at NCPR is our access to free courses at St. Lawrence University, also available to spouses. My late husband, Bill Knoble, earned a BS in Geology (Summa Cum Laude!) which he started at the age of 60. I’ve audited a couple of classes and taken one for credit.<\/p>\n

This week, it’s back to school for area colleges, and after Labor Day, public schools return. I’ve joined the school crew. I signed up for an advanced fiction writing class with Professor Paul Graham. I’m thrilled, and a little scared.<\/p>\n

I live with a “foster” son who is in his senior year at SUNY Canton, just two semesters away from a degree in Electrical Engineering. He takes 19-21 credits each semester and pulls down straight As. In my family, top of the class seems to be the norm.<\/p>\n

But here’s the thing. At this age (my age, over 60), who cares, really? I no longer worry about what “people think.” My mother-in-law passed away and took to her grave the metaphorical white gloves swiping windowsills; I traded in fashionable for functional clothing years ago; and, I’ll pretty much let you know if I don’t like the music.<\/p>\n

The joy of going back to school late in life is that grades and status just don’t matter any more. It’s about curiosity and challenging yourself. I wish I could say the same about my undergraduate years four decades ago (that was more about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll). Now, I want to stretch. I write a lot of prose for my job, but writing fiction is a whole different world. I’ve dabbled. Now I want to challenge myself to do it for real. Maybe get a few chapters for that novel started.<\/p>\n

Wish me luck…the younger students in this class are the cream of the writing crop at SLU. I hope I can keep up.<\/p>\n

Oh, and help me out by telling me about your late in life learning experiences–formal classes, seminars, shadowing a artisan you learned a craft from, whatever. Thanks.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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