Reasons Older Adults Continue Their Education

Think outside the box

Narrow-minded people often make false assumptions regarding situations where they are not aware of the details. People tend to put their own spin on why others make the decisions they do, and usually they are wrong. This is very true when it comes to adults over age 50, who are not sitting in a rocking chair waiting to die. One area in question is why senior citizens decide to go back to school. The small mind, associates college education with youth and trying to obtain a good paying job. While that is one aspect of higher learning, there is so much more to why older men and women decide to continue their education. Please consider the following.

1. Because they can

There is no law that says life has to stop at 50, 60, 70, 80, or even 90. If an older adult does not want to retire we should applaud them instead of discouraging them. Our modern society paints a very ugly picture of aging adults and instead of celebrating, appreciating and congratulating them, we mock these men and women by tolerating and even violating them. Some aging individuals have health issues where they cannot make certain choices and many people die before reaching a certain age. Why not believe the sky is the limit as long as you have breath in your body?

There are women who said their spouses did not want them to go back to school, so after divorce, or becoming a widow, these females decided to exercise their free will choice and do what they have always dreamed of. Many times raising children, helping with grandchildren, a sick spouse or aging parents hinders individuals from furthering their education. It is only when they reach the senior years that they can freely make the choice and have them time to apply to education.

2. In order to complete what they once began

Many older adults went to college straight out of high school and for many reasons they did not continue. They may have had to quit in order to work, or dropped out because a child was on the way. Some may have simply not been college material that that time, or did not have the funds to continue. Now that they are older and wiser they are more than ready, willing, and able.

Retired individuals often complete their education to simply finish what they once began. These adults are not looking for a job, they simply want to be able to say that they were able to get the sheep skin, put on the cap and gown and walk across the stage. Those who are going to school online, just want to say "I did it." Many people just don't like unfinished business.

3. Credibility

In the world we live in, common sense, spiritual discernment, and life lessons don't mean much even when they prove beneficial. Society values education. There may be seniors who are doing well in their current occupation, but are not respected because they don't have a degree. Decades ago a local man had been working for The Roanoke Times newspaper in my city for 30 years. He was said to be an exemplary employee, knew his job and did it well. He was passed over for a promotion which went to a new, much younger employee who did not know the job, but had a college degree. This 30 year veteran soon after, took his own life and his family shared his sad story.

An older adult who continues to work may be able to maintain a job or receive a well deserve promotion when they have the education to back them up. People tend to give more credibility to writers whose profiles indicate they have an education in the area that they are writing about. Trial and error and life experience just does not carry any weight when compared with a degree. It is assumed that the bachelors, masters, or doctorate indicates more knowledge, but I recall my grandma talking about educated fools. A degree is a status symbol to many and having one opens doorsd.

4. A new job

Seniors who don't want to retire may decide to change their employment status and try something new. Depending on the job, a degree might help them secure it. Those going into business for themselves will also find that an education is beneficial. Yes, there are many people who built a business from the ground up and became successful, but many more have an education behind them. I recently began to find out that many actors and entertainers were not "discovered" but have education to back them up.

5. Reaching a goal

There are older adults who have bucket lists, and completing their education might be on the list. Healthy adults with sound minds should have the right to choose whatever path they desire. Sometimes, as older people reflect on those who have passed on, they just want to celebrate life and do something meaningful while they are still in the land of the living. Setting goals is always in order, no matter what age. When you see your peers are in the cemetery, nursing homes, or hospitals and no longer have the capacity to make willful choices, it causes one to simply want to live.

6. Online convenience

There may be adults who simply are unable to go back into the classroom, but an online education is within their grasp. Whether you have to use a virtual classroom or can utilize your own time, online classes are done in the convenience of your own home. Older individuals with disabilities that make mobility a challenge will especially enjoy this new way of going back to school. Some seniors may have always desired a college education but did no desire to sit in a classroom with students young enough to be their grandchildren.

7. Pandemic/survival mindset

There may be adults who survived COVID-19, a heart attack, stroke, or a deadly vehicle accident. They are re-accessing their lives and believe they were spared for a purpose. These individuals may decide to go back to school to celebrate that they are still here and want to contribute something worthwhile to the world.

8. The love of learning

There are people who love learning something new. They crave gaining new insights and are lifelong learners. These seniors are not afraid of the Internet, social media, or an online education. This is a new and different challenge and they live to conquer uncharted territory,

Live and learn until you die

Everyone no matter what age who has survived the coronavirus, should be thankful for life and re-evaluate their future choices. If you are a senior citizen and considering higher learning, I say more power to you. Don't listen to the detractors who may say the following:

1. You are too old,

2. You won't be able to handle it.

3. You are wasting your money.

4. You are getting in debt with loans for nothing.

5. You just want the grant and or scholarship money.

6. You are trying to prove a point to someone

7. You can't do anything with a degree at your age.

If you have the ability and availability keep living and learning until you die. Don't be discouraged by the nay sayers, instead become motivated by them to succeed and make them eat their words. Instead of criticizing seniors who decide to go back to school, why not celebrate, appreciate, and congratulate them. The bottom line is you did it and many that try to hinder you did not. This is why they try to hold you back because they fear they can do no better than where they are. Whatever reason an older man or woman decides to go back to school or begin a college education for the first time, it's really their personal business.