ADULT STUDENTS ARE MASTER JUGGLERS
By ANGELA SHUFF
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Traditional students think they have it hard. jug
gling schoolwork, part-time jobs, and a social life.
But, true credit for hard work must go to the adult
students who in the middle of their lives are taking
on the challenge of finishing their degree.
'Because of the convenient location of the campus
Penn Sate Harrisburg has a large amount of adult
students. Residents of Harrisburg, York, Carlisle,
and Hershey can earn a Penn State degree in their
hack yard,
Before the addition of four-year programs welcom
ing freshmen, the average age of a Penn State
Harrisburg student was about 27 years of age,
according to bonna Howard. Student Services.
Adult students are pursuing a wide range of degrees,
hut the most popular choices are Business.
information Systems Technology, and Computer
Science, fobs abound in the computer field, and
adult students are rerouting their careers to take
advantage of this growing industry.
If anyone would ask a 21-. year-old student what he
is doing, he Would probably reply that he is first and
foremost a college student. Adult students however,
do not see themselves as students first, They are
spouses, parents, and
employees first and stu
dents second, sticking
with the commitment to
return to school in mid-life
takes a lot of time. manage
ment and discipline.
Besides the pressure of
schoolwork, adult student. •
work full time and pau•tici
pate in Parent Teacher
Associations, community
committees and church
organizations
Cheryl Klipa, English,
went to college right ou t 0 1
high school, hut she did not take it seriously. This
time around it means more to her. - I want to do it
tor me," she said, Her frustration comes when 'try
ing to hint time In do work, She has to rely too
Cheryla Klipa hopes to finish her degree
year and a half and then look for a job in
can use her English degree.
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much on internet sources
because it is hard for her to
make time to be in the
library. "If my daughter has
a soccer game, I am going to
go to watch her play, instead
of studying at home," said
Klipa,
"l just take it all in stride,"
said Bill Howe, eommunica-
lions. Howe went to
Lycoming College alter high
school, but now he is more
focused. He laments that he
does not have enough time
for his wife and daughter, but
he tries to involve them in
the college experience by
taking them to art exhibits
and cultural shows,
Adult students add a lot of
insight to the classroont
environment. They have
real world experience and
they share that knowledge
with other students.
Donna Howard in the Student Assistance Office,
helps adult students
,•• • • - orient themselves
, • ,
• . • • when they first start
the process of return
ing to school. One of
the biggest struggles
for students who
work full time is that
they do not have any
time to get dinner
before class starts at
6:00 p.m.. therefore
Student Services pro
vides free grab and go
meals before evening
classes a few times a
year. This lets the evening students know that
Student Services is there for them if they ever need
help or encouragement.
Because adult students are already slaves to other
ro , pol) , ,ihihtleS, it is almost impossi-
Mc for them to get involved on cam
pUS. 'They are always on the run,
therefore thene arc no organiiations
tit eluhs e‘clitsoely for them, with
the e \eephon of Alpha Sigma
.imbda, the adult llottor Society, To
he an ANI membet, students, mu s t he
an malemaduate )ears of
age car older, they most ha ,e to cred
11 , ,, a 1.7 (i1) / s, and they must tank in
the top I ;of 14 1011 P () I adult
students.
"`living ari AM, member n. a great
11011tir, 1001 , ,S WOMIVIftIi Oil a
restnue. - sold (liarlotte Specter, ASI
advi sor; It also provides a social net
work of adult students Who eau foon
a support group for each other,
Every April, the national AM, office
awards seven $l,OOO scholarships
and one $ MO scholarship to quali
fying adult students,
in the next
which she
David Fiifter works hard to kee
ties, but believes a degree will
The Harrisburg chapter of ASL just announced that
applications for a $5O book grant are available in the
Student Assistance Center. The grants are provided
from the funds generated from Fox Market's Save
and Share program.
Getting a degree comes from a drive for satisfac
tion. For David Ritter, interdisciplinary humanities,
completing his degree was one thing in his life that
always felt unresolved, so now he is doing some..
thing about that. "I didn't see the need for a degree
when I was younger. I thought I knew everything.
But now rm like a sponge. and I enjoy learning,"
said Ritter, Adult students need to be recognized fi - er
their persistence and dedication. They are taking the
initiative to get ahead even though they could easily
let many things hold them down.
"I just have to take it all in stride," says
Bill Howe, who is working toward a
career in film production.
photos by Steve Standridge
many responsibili
it in the end.
p with
worth