After sharing my life with sheep, goats, and llamas for 25 years, it’s been hard to find anything to write about that’s as challenging as farming. I’d always wanted to go back to school, but we can’t afford the $1400/credit graduate school tuition.
But then I learned that to encourage lifelong learning, MN residents who are 62+ may take classes at the U of MN for $10/credit.
What? $10/credit? That’s $30 for a 3 credit course! I feel guilty: Between 1970 and 2018, tuition has risen 2700%, and puts a terrible burden on young adults… But the guilt isn’t going to stop me from taking advantage of this program.
But what to study? Something new. Something relevant. Then I found it: the Masters of Professional Studies in Civic Engagement. Civics!—voting, volunteering, understanding government, working together to improve communities, strengthening democracy! Many of the classes are online; only a handful require that I drive to Minneapolis to attend class in-person.
I applied. I was accepted. I took my first class (Voting Participation and Outreach), got an -A. I’m taking two classes this summer, and am designing my own degree program. The coursework isn’t hard; it’s figuring out how to use all the technology that’s driving me crazy. 🙂
What will I do with a MPS in Civic Engagement? Acck! I don’t know! I’m trusting that the coursework will take me in a direction I can’t yet see.
Is it scary to start back to school the same month you become eligible for Medicare?
Oh, yeah.
But if I can handle sheep and goats and steers and ducks, I’m hoping I can handle a few classes… We’ll see… 🙂
14 Responses
Good for you Catherine! I’m sure this will lead to something good. More blog posts at least!
Good for you! I have loved reading your books and am looking forward to more. This new adventure sounds like opening up to wonderful new opportunities – maybe new stories.
Hooray! You already have earned the “A” in my mind! So proud of you! ❤️
WooHoo!!! I love to learn. I wish I could be your tech support, but being so far away would make it hard. But shoot me a question if you have one and I’ll see what I can do.
It’s all the apps the different instructors use. Hopefully I’m getting the hang of it, but if not, I may take you up on your offer. Thanks!
You’re my hero, Catherine!
(Though I do like to remind myself that I, yours truly, once saved you from a scary bat on our island retreat.LOL!)
Bat? What bat? I deny that I ever dashed from a cabin and refused to reenter until you’d caught the bat. That’s just an ugly rumor…fake news… 🙂
That is just awesome…you can do anything you put your mind to…I can sense another book out of this adventure
Yea Catherine! So glad you found that program and I’m sure it will lead to something wonderful for you. My grandmother went to college for four years to get a degree in psychology after she retired at age 65 (this would have been about 1974). She didn’t to anything with the degree but she enjoyed the heck out of the classes and being around “young people” as she called her classmates. I hope this feeds your soul as much as hers was fed.
What a lovely story—good for her!
I can’t imagine anything wrong with studying “Civil Engagement.” And I’m delighted you found out that you were eligible for this at a reasonable rate. May you learn, and learn, and learn.
Fantastic! We definitely need more people with this knowledge base. Cool program. Glad you found it.
Awesome. Learning at any age is wonderful but plotting a truly different course as one gets older is magic in itself. Enjoy the journey.
Good in you Catherine! Back to pick a few more raspberries huh?
I’ve been trying to get more involved in my local political scene. Maybe you can give me some suggestions.