I am a homebody. I go to work, see family or a friend and come back home.
I decided to go back to school as a healthy way to get out of the house and expand by world. The local university offers free classes (auditing) to those age 60 and over. When I turned 60, I signed up. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Many things, i.e. technology, dress codes, the ability of students to write and read cursive….these have all changed since I last attended a class in 1978.
I was amazed at seeing young people walking side by side, not talking, but looking at their phones. Why don’t they talk to each other? I wondered how they can text and walk at the same time? I have to watch where I am going! Whenever I caught their eye, I smiled and said ‘good afternoon.’ They always seemed surprised and responded. I was very pleasantly surprised by the kindness and politeness of the students toward me.
In class, I enjoyed the lecture, I understood the material (Survey of Economics) and I did the reading (but not the homework – class is SO enjoyable without the pressure of assignment deadlines!) The reading was pretty minimal – a short chapter each week.
The book was digital only. Digital books are NOT my preference. I like to read in the tub and I have this awful fear of having the tablet in the tub. Not that I am going to drop it and ruin it, no, I take that risk with my paper books all the time. No, my fear is that I might accidentally take a selfie with the tablet and accidentally post it. Horrifying!
The one thing that has not changed about college textbooks: college textbooks are still incredibly over-priced.
I plan to take another class this semester. It is good for my brain and good for me to be out among other people – instead of a semi-hermit at home. I hope to sign up for a one-night-a-week class recommended by a friend. It has a whole new level of required student participation…not just a lecture. Yeah, I am living on the edge.