OT: Leaving HP after 24 years and Have I lost my mind?

jump head first into getting into nursing school. Have I lost my mind? Whollycarp, what am I thinking? I graduated from high school 30 years ago>

AHEM nothing wrong with that -- I am graduationg from law school 30 years from my High School Graduation! LOL and 26 years after my first undergraduate degree .....

Cheryl DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

Kristi,

You should talk to my dad who's story is almost identical to your's (except at Lucent Technologies). He's been there 25+ years. He is now going back to school to train to be a nurse. He is having a great time. They other day, to proove how good he is doing, he held his hand up to me. For the first time since I have known him (my 27 years of life) I noticed that his hand was not trembling at all. He is able to do his school work in a semi-legible manner. Who would've thought that his mysterious tendinitous-like condition would more or less "disappear" in his life style change!

I am also doing more or less the same thing; I am going for a PhD. Of course now that I have totally decided to do it and gone through the entire process of applying, getting accepted, etc etc, it sounds like they WON'T be "Force Managing" me. But oh well, I'm on to a new and different (and hopefully better... certainly interesting!) life!

My own panic attacks and depression have not exactly disappeared, but leveled out a little since I made the desision. I have something positive I am moving towards, instead of just hanging in hoping and trying for different jobs which might only afford me some more months of the same worries.

Good luck!

BTW my dad has done a lot of research into the whole getting into nursing school as a "non-traditional" student. He is very frustrated at our fellow-employees' lack of interest in looking into ways of "getting out" dispite evidence that they may at any moment also be forced out, so he's often happy to talk to someone who IS serious about it.

Let me know if you'd like info on getting in touch with him.

marisa2

Kirsti wrote:

ah.... but you've been back to school since graduating from high school! I've decided that I'll have to spend a good part of the next few weeks studying to take the SAT test! I think the last test I took that required you to fill in the circles with a #2 pencil, I randomly filled in the dots... made a wonderful pattern! I best not do that on the SAT :)

Kirsti

hmmmm, Lucent Tech and HP - Carly Fiorina - she has a reputation doesn't she? Funny, I think I've been on celexa since she walked into the job. A person shouldn't have to be medicated to go to work!

I would certainly like to hear what he has found out about the "non-traditional" student. I know this is going to be a tough go. Most schools are filling opeinings with minorities. Unless being 47 and out of school for 30 years puts you into some sort of minority group! At least I've got some medical knowledge - I spent 6 years as an EMT, hope that helps!

Kirsti

The University I went to, at 37, was the same one I'd been accepted to 21 years before, just out of high school. University of Alaska had an average student body age of about 29 then, and it's around 35 now. Gives you an idea of how popular returning to school is. You might want to check and see how old the students are at thee schools you're interested in.

Older students have different requirements than those just out of high school. The big thing is that "adults" demand interaction, while younger students can accommodate the "just fill the student up with knowledge" approach.

I found that the classes where there were a couple of us older students were more dynamic, but because used up some class time with interaction, with asking for answers based on own personal experiences, or told of experiences that were at odds with the policies we learned, we often needed more time for homework.

Returning students usually brought the level of performance in the class up, too. After all, if your work is 50% to 70% on the job, you don't get a passing grade like in school, you get replaced.

Tina

Best of luck Kristi!!!

Kristi,

If you are really interested in getting in touch with him, please write me at mwid at hotmail dot com.

Thanks

Marisa2