I didn’t realize how much I am out of the loop until I went back to school. I thought I knew all the latest lingo and styles. Nope. I’m now considered … old.

When I first decided to go back to school to earn my nursing degree I didn’t consider the possibility that I would be one of the oldest people in the class. But I am. And it can be hard and frustrating at times.

While I’m busy taking notes and making sure that my homework is completed on time, I hear laughter behind me, cell phones vibrating and music blaring from someone’s headset. Each is a total distraction.

There was one student in particular who was very difficult. He didn’t care about school and only went because his parents paid his tuition. During class he was very rude and distracting. He often came to class late.

I knew there were people trying to get into this class but they couldn’t because it was full. They were forced to wait until someone dropped out. The teacher never addressed this student’s bad behavior despite complaints from other students in the class. His distractions were affecting everyone’s work.

So I decided to do something. I pulled him to the side and had a little chat with him.

I asked him why he would take a class that he has no desire to learn in. His answer was that he thought it would be an easy A. So I explained to him how his distractions during class not only hurt me but everyone else in the class as well. I suggested that he consider picking a class he is more interested in.

He looked at me, used some vulgar language and walked away. Eventually the teacher did drop him from the class.

Afterwards, I could only think, I hope my children never act like that, in school or any place else.

You would think that college would be exciting and that people will be friendlier. Don’t get me wrong, for the most part it is. But there is a section of the student body that makes it no fun at all.

I have made some friends in college and even though I’m older than most of them, they look up to me. They ask for advice on school and study habits and I learn from them too.

Despite the generation gap, college has been a great experience. It’s never too late to learn!