Not long ago, a fellow non-trad and I were having a conversation about our upcoming graduation from Mesa State. The conversation turned to “walk or not to walk?”
I had always planned to walk, but my friend said he wasn’t.
“What? Why not? After all the hard work, walking up on stage and being acknowledged for it, it’ll be amazing,” I told him.
“I’m too old,” he answered.
We are about the same age and I don’t consider myself too old for a lot of things, especially not to walk at commencement.
“No, really I’m not going to, I’ll feel like an idiot. With all those younger kids, I don’t want to stick out” he said.
I reminded him that our campus is filled with plenty of older non-trads, and on graduation day there will be a mix of graduates. “Why be so self conscious? It’s not like when they announce your name at graduation they also inform the crowd your age as well,” I told him.
“I don’t know, I just know I will feel weird,” he said.
I backed off. If that’s how he really felt, then that’s that.
But it did get me to thinking about non-traditional students’ participation in other college events and college life in general. I realize that if you’re a non-trad student with a family to take care of and other issues to deal with, it’s hard to do more on campus besides classes. I know a few non-trads that never do much more than just that.
However, I also think that while you’re in college you should take advantage of all the great things it has to offer, no matter what your age is. And I also think that being a non-trad doesn’t mean that you can’t get to know or support traditional students. However, showing up at the Keg-A-Thon may be a tad bit asinine.
We have so many talented fellow students here, it’s really incredible. The best part about these kinds of events, you can take your whole family with you. I have taken my 5 year old son, Alek, to a few dance concerts and he just loved it. As a parent going back to school, the more you involve your kids with college events, the more you expose them to what higher education can offer.
I wish I belonged to clubs on campus, but with my schedule and my family, I have no time for such a commitment. I’m a public relations major but not a PR Club member. But it doesn’t mean I can’t support them with the events they are doing, even if I can’t physically be there. I can support them by telling everyone I know what they are doing.
Picking up the school’s newspaper The Crite and Horizon magazine or tuning in to KMSA radio are really easy ways to involve yourself and maintain a connection with fellow students. Even better, if you can, join one of the college’s organizations. Even if it’s just for a semester, it will be worth your time and effort.
So here is my challenge to all you non-trad students: If you have not participated in some way with a college related event or organization, start with this week’s Unity Fest. Information is available on Facebook and in the college center. I took my kids last year and it was awesome. It’s a great way to take a break from all the studying.

vgross@mesastate.edu