Well, I guess I'll start this blog off by writing a little about myself.
It seems a thing to do...a place to start...
I'm a 31 year old male just finally getting back to college after a 10 year "break". By break, I mean a horrible personal tragedy followed by 5 years of deep depression, health related problems, downward spiral, then the slow arduous task of picking myself back up, building myself back up, and climbing until I'm in a position to pick up where I left off 10 years ago, namely, trying to finish my degree. I'll spare you all the intimate details of the situation. (Suffice to say, it's a real tear jerker ;))
Now here I am, 31 and a college junior. There are certain challenges to overcome for a person in my position. For one, most the classes I'm currently taking draw on skills from previous classes, that for me, are 10 years in the past. And since I spent my first two years of college taking care of the basics (calculus, physics, composition, etc)...owch. I'm taking two 3rd year math classes at the moment, and struggling every step of the way. I think I'm doing good so far, but 10 years ago these classes would've been a cakewalk for me, not to brag. As I told one professor, "my math skills have the mental equivalent of being stored up in the attic for the past 10 years, being stored behind 3 years worth of Christmas decorations and that old couch my aunt gave me and I had no where else to put"...in other words, I know it's there somewhere, it's just taking time to dig them out and dust them off and make them presentable again. And sure enough, as the semester progresses, things are starting to come a little easier...I'm remembering things now that I haven't had need of in over 10 years.
Oddly enough, I checked into this stuff prior to the semester starting. The college I'm attending assured me that, even though the classes I had transfering in were 10 years prior, there should be no problems. I was sure I'd be required to take a few refresher courses after being away so long. C'est la vie, I guess.
I guess the reason I'm writing all of this, is that everyone has their reasons for going for college. Some people do it just because it's the 'thing to do', without any real plan or purpose. For me, the past 10 years have been pure hell, and for me to return to college marks a very special point in my life to date. To me, personally, it means I've overcome the hardships that have haunted me for the past 10 years, and have managed to pull myself together to the point where this is something real, with a real chance of working out. I know where I am, I know where I'm going, and I know what I want to do with this (I'm a computer science major who wants to become a programmer). Now, more than any point in my life, and especially in the past 10 years, my future is mine to make of what I will.
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Go get it...You will do well because you aspire to do it at all.
My signature here is a mantra that keeps me going as well ;)
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Even if you fall flat on your face, you're still moving forward.
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For sure.
I think it is so impressive and inspiring that you are returning after so much time. I can feel your motivation and strength in your words, You're going to be able to do this. Even if you have not done math (at this level) for some time, that is a skill that never vanishes. You've already realized this though. I feel kind of silly being eighteen and telling someone so much older than me that they can do this, I guess because it seems like I am too young to know what anyone can do. But, you CAN! Good luck.