. . . and Advice From Other Adult Learners About Why These Excuses Don’t Fly

You wake up every day to return to the same job you have been dragging yourself to for the past 10 years. However, you don’t see a way out. More sitting at a computer crunching numbers you don’t care about; or performing mind-numbing data entry; or performing work that, let’s face it, was fine 10 years ago, but is starting to wear on you physically now. 

You’ve always been interested in helping people, or computers, or nursing, or advanced manufacturing but you’re not sure if you can hack going to college at this point. You don’t have time. You’re afraid of math. Your cat wants you home at night. The excuses are endless. 

“College is something to get excited about,” says Dr. Greg Thomas, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Isothermal Community College. “The key is taking the first step. The support structure we’ve built should help you past any perceived or real barriers. You can do it and we’ll help you.” 

Here are some top excuses. We’ll work on debunking each one. 

Excuse #1: “I didn’t do well when I was in high school. Therefore, I won’t do well in college.”

You might have been really great at field hockey or football while you were in high school. You might have slept in until noon on the weekends. You might have worn flip-flops in the wintertime. Who you were in high school has little relevance to who you are today. Your values, interests, and yes, your skills, have evolved. 

You might be sorely out of practice at playing football today, though you might have been great at it 20 years ago. Likewise, you might be a great student today though you weren’t when you were younger. You’re more motivated. You have a lot of great experience to draw upon. You’re more mature. 

“When students make the decision to follow their passion and initiate a life change, it’s amazing to see what kind of capabilities emerge,” says Thomas. 

Leave this excuse in the past, along with your 20-year-old mediocre high school report card. 

Excuse #2: “I don’t have the time.”

We’re all doing a million things. However, think of the time that is wasted in your life when you’re unhappy with your career path. We tend to compensate for our unhappiness with other huge time and money wasters. You may constantly go shopping, eat out, or play mindless games on the computer, all in an attempt to feed yourself because your profession is not feeding you. 

Also, most colleges, including Isothermal, cater to busy adults. At ICC, courses are offered at varying times, in-person, online, or as a hybrid between the two. Many parents like taking online courses, which allow them to complete their courses without having to arrange childcare. Through online learning, students take their classes when their children go to bed, on their lunch breaks, or whenever it’s convenient for them. 

You will probably find that, when you begin learning material that resonates with you, you will have a lot more energy and time to get the work done than you thought. 

Excuse #3: “I can’t afford it.”

You may think that college is out of your reach because of cost. However, college may be more affordable than you think. “Financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify for both full-time and part-time students,” says Thomas. “At Isothermal, we have the Powers Promise, which can give residents of Polk and Rutherford counties a tuition-free experience.” Thomas encourages students to apply early. This gives them the best chance of a financial package that meets their needs. A majority of Isothermal students receive some sort of financial aid. 

Thomas encourages all students considering college to fill out the FAFSA form, the first step in the financial aid process, by going to fafsa.gov. 

Excuse #4: “I can’t do math.”

So, you haven’t done calculus since your junior year of high school. So what? You won’t be thrown into calculus your first semester (and maybe not at all if your degree or certificate doesn’t require it). When you enter as a new student, you will be placed in courses that match your level and you will start there. 

For those who see math as an insurmountable challenge, like walking the entire length of the Mojave Desert with no shoes, Thomas encourages some perspective. “Many of our students are facing struggles in life, personally and professionally. It’s so amazing to watch them overcome these obstacles and emerge as stronger individuals. We are here to help students find success.” 

Excuse #5: “I don’t know what I want to study.”

You know that you want to earn a degree in something, you just aren’t sure what that something is yet!
Do you keep putting off college until the bolt of inspiration comes? 

“Our talented advisors spend time with students and potential students to find out more about career and educational goals in order to match them up with a program and timeframe that works for them,” explains Thomas. “With nearly 100 programmatic choices, there are a wide range of options, and we are confident we can help you find the right one.”