• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Thursday, January 30, 1997

Love of education draws graduates and older

students back to UCLABy Carol McKay

Daily Bruin Contributor

Robbie Gordon, a third-year sociology student, looks like many other students on campus. She wears a backpack, a navy blue UCLA baseball cap, and carefully balances a stack of papers and a hot cup of coffee. The only difference between Gordon and the majority of the student population is that she's 74 years old.

"I don't feel different than anyone else in classes or on campus. Others may view me as different, but I don't feel different. And that's what's important," Gordon said.

Students over the age of 25 make up 9.3 percent of the undergraduate population, according to the Office of Academic Planning. And according to students on campus, they're easy to spot.

"They usually sit in the front rows, and they always ask a lot of questions. They're not afraid to raise their hand," said Maisha Elonai, a first-year English student.

However, students like Elonai show mixed feelings toward the heavy degree of participation by the more experienced members of their classes.

"I think older students can either help or hurt a class," Elonai said, recalling an example of a "good" older student in her women's studies class who brought her experiences to the discussion. "She had lived what we were talking about. She was as good as a source book."

Other times, Elonai said, older students can hinder discussion, showing disrespect to professors and the class as a whole.

"A man in my psychology lecture interrupted a lot and brought up irrelevant points. It was really annoying. It was like he had something to prove," Elonai said.

Gordon admits that she's more outgoing than most students. "I lost my shyness 40 years ago," she said. "I'm not intimidated by my professors, not like you kids. Maybe I intimidate them."

Professors often find that older students like Gordon enrich the class.

"They bring more life experience. I don't know if I would call them better students, but often they have a better sense of what they want to do. They're more likely to take a class out of pure enjoyment rather than as a requirement," said Tom Plummer, an anthropology professor.

Because older students take classes entirely for themselves, the amount of stress involved in traditional college experiences is lessened.

"If I was taking this class when I was a full-time student here, I would already be thinking about the midterm," said Millicint Stein, a 71-year-old student.

Stein, who graduated with both bachelor's and master's degrees from UCLA in the 1950s, said she has been taking classes on campus through the extension program and at local community colleges for several years.

Stein is currently auditing a plant life biology class, in which she became interested after completing training for a position as a docent at the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Gardens.

"My family got a kick out of the fact that I never stopped going to school. (People) tend to think of education as a terminated thing," Stein said. "When (people) graduate, it's such a relief. For me, it wasn't too long until I was back."

Stein says that much has changed since her time as an undergrad. "Not all for the better," she said. "Parking was terrible then too, but the campus had a much more beautiful feeling to it.

"I remember when I used to sit in the arches of Royce Hall and do French homework, stretching out my legs in the sun. I miss that," Stein said.

Gordon chose to begin classes at UCLA in 1993 because "it was just something I always wanted to do. This was the only school I wanted to go to," Gordon said. "I gambled ... I didn't apply anywhere else."

As an older student, Gordon feels that she has the advantage of having "experienced life," but also notices that she is "really competing with the young people. I thought I was pretty smug when I came here ... These young people are brilliant ­ it humbles me," she said.

Older students returning to the classroom often find they are able to more fully appreciate their opportunities at the university.

"I place a tremendous value on the education by virtue of my age," Gordon said. She advises younger students that, "they should remember that they are here by choice. It's a privilege to go to college. I know how lucky I am."

Stein agreed. She is taking only one class, in an area in which she was previously interested. "I'm doing this for myself," Stein said.

"I take fewer notes ... Nothing hinges on this class except my interest. Most students aren't that lucky."

For Gordon and Stein, their interests in returning to school caused them to make sacrifices in the rest of their lives. Balancing time between families and trips to campus coffee shops has been tough, but worthwhile, says Gordon, thanks to the support of her family.

"My husband has had very few home-cooked meals in the last three years," Gordon said. Spending an estimated 25-30 hours a week on campus and at least that much time studying at home, Gordon said that she has had to put some past hobbies on hold until she completes her degree.

"I study on the weekends; I don't play," said Gordon, who used to be an avid skier and tennis player. To supplement the lost physical activity, Gordon has taken up dance classes at UCLA.

On her way toward a bachelor of science degree in sociology, Gordon plans to graduate in June and to continue her volunteer work at area clinics.

"I really want it. I really want to graduate. That's what has sustained me. I never doubted I would make it. I only doubted what condition I would make it in," Gordon said of the approaching day.

"My biggest joy will come when I walk down the aisle and turn the tassel. I get excited and nervous just thinking about it."

Not that she doesn't ever get a little sleepy in class. Gordon recalled a less-than-exciting psychology lecture: "I thought I would die. One of my biggest fears was that I would sleep through a class. But I did manage to stay awake," she said. But Gordon had to stay awake ­ she was sitting in the front row.

JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin

Robbie Gordon (center), a 74 year-old sociology major graduation this spring, takes part in stretching exercises in her Movement as Cultural Behavior class in the Arts and Cultures department.

(left) Robbie Gordon (center), a 74-year-old sociology student graduating this spring, stretches in her Movement as Cultural Behavior class in the World Arts and Cultures department. (below) Gordon shares a laugh with classmates Joe Nguyen (center) and Patrick Redington between activities. (bottom right) Gordon wipes sweat from her neck after a strenuous exercise. (bottom left) Gordon cheers as her classmates complete a challenging exercise in body control.JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin

Gordon shares a laugh with classmates Joe Nguyen (center) and Patrick Redington in between activities. AARON TOUT

Gordon cheers as her classmates completes a challenging exercise in body control.AARON TOUT

Gordon wipes perspiration from her neck after a strenuous exercise.