Thoughts on School

So, here we are, halfway through my summer session class.  I was surprised to find myself not the only older student and that the teacher is very attentive to the older students, more so, than the kids.  He has been very encouraging of my progress and understanding in terms of schedule changes, child care needs, ect.  In my previous attempts to attend school, I have never felt this excited to be there.  Perhaps it’s the subject matter, perhaps it’s my current stage in life, not sure which.  Does it really matter?  I don’t think so.

The class is a beginner piano class and I wasn’t sure how much I’d get out of it.  I took piano for so many years as a kid that I thought I would be bored.  However, the students are all at different levels and the teacher works with us individually.  I’m very surprised at the rate of my progress.  I hadn’t played music in nearly 20 years.  When I was a kid, I was a total theory geek, so I still have the ability to read music, I just need to work on the actual playing.  Having a teacher is really doing wonders for that.  When we got the piano, I got some “teach yourself to play” books, but never went very far.  This class has reminded me just how much I love making music and I plan to continue taking classes when this one is finished.

The other older student in my class is a guy my age.  He got his first AA in Criminal Justice and had been working in the field for 10+ years.  I was very interested to talk to him, both about the program and about his work.  The things he has told me has me reconsidering my plan to study Criminal Justice.  At this point, I don’t have to declare a major and I have quite a bit of time before I do.  I won’t be going full time until the kids are old enough to stay home by themselves.  Right now, I plan on working on my core classes and the major can wait.