how old is dd

In an attempt to meet new people in a new space, Nancy Sherman started to take classes at the University of New Orleans. After 1 adviser suggested she pursue a degree, she is at present set to graduate with honors May 19 with a available's degree in interdisciplinary studies.

Nancy Sherman is a coal miner's daughter who grew upward in Masontown, Pennsylvania, Long Island, New York, and Oceanside, New York. After loftier school, she became a flight attendant with Northeast Airlines. She was one of the first "stewardesses" to exist allowed to wearable contact lenses.

When she had her daughter, Kelly Jean, she became a real estate agent just quickly went back to beingness a flight attendant with Capitol Airlines. She was a flight bellboy for about xx years before retiring and moving to New Orleans, where her daughter lives and attended the University of New Orleans.

In an effort to come across new people in a new infinite, she started to take classes at the university. After one adviser suggested she pursue a degree, she is at present set to graduate with honors May xix with a available's degree in interdisciplinary studies.

Through the Lifelong Learner Scholarship at the Academy of New Orleans, students aged 65 and older are able to attend courses at UNO tuition-free. To be eligible for this program, "students must consummate the application and enrollment process by the posted deadlines published on the Important Dates Calendar maintained on the University Registrar's website besides every bit be a Louisiana resident." The toll of textbooks and standard university fees are not included in the tuition exemption.

What fabricated yous decide to start college at age 74?

I started out wanting to get for fun. Showtime of all, y'all don't have to pay tuition, but you do take to pay for your fees and books.

When I graduated from high school, it was a unlike generation where higher wasn't so important. I was a flight attendant for about 20 years, and this is my first time going to any kind of academy and getting a degree. So I kind of did my life a little backward. I had my career and brought up my daughter, and now I'thou going for my outset degree.

For my final form, I'm focusing on research on how to brand schoolhouse more accessible for seniors — making age-friendly universities. In Ireland, they have a lot of seniors who go back to school because they've made it easier for them. Just doing an application is difficult, so it needs to be made easier.

You tin can take courses on anything that you're interested in. I wanted to do French and piano, so that's what I started out with. I had an advisor who was from a boondocks adjacent to mine. He bamboozled me into going for a degree. I have to say it has been a existent hazard.

If someone wanted to go back to schoolhouse simply was hesitant, what would y'all tell them?

I'll help them. Send them to me. I talked to a lot of people, and they mentioned having to take intendance of their grandchildren. I figured, even if you have intendance of your grandchildren, go to grade for an hour. It doesn't take upward a lot of your time, but you volition be so glad that you went.

I think it'due south better to get out of your comfort zone and try something new, which is also very healthy mentally and physically. Also, you get that educatee ID, which you lot're very proud to show when you go somewhere. You get a student disbelieve when you show your student ID. I go, "Yeah, yeah, I'm a student."

You can besides utilise all the facilities (at the university). I'm a swimmer, so I was able to use the recreation facilities without having to pay an extra fee. At that place are a lot of piffling rewards y'all go for being a pupil.

(Going to UNO) was something that made me feel good about me.

What have yous learned from this experience?

First of all, your mind keeps thinking.

I too learned, from going to the university and existence around a lot of young people (because I'm ever the oldest person in the class), that the youth are very receptive to you lot equally an older person.

I establish in the beginning, they weren't quite sure. After I started talking and getting involved in the classroom, the children (I should call them students, non children) were very helpful and really nice. I've had a lot of fun with them. I'g too non afraid to have to write papers at present. I didn't think I would be able to accomplish that, just I had to write 10-page papers in college.

Practice you recall that people have a negative predisposed notion of older people going dorsum to school?

I hate when people say I'm sometime. Today I was thinking when people say, "Oh that little old lady down the block." No, she'southward the older woman who lives down the block. We should look at it more like, "They're the older person that lives down the block and possibly they can help me with something I don't know nigh." Nosotros still have a lot that nosotros tin contribute to society.

What are you most proud of?

I'grand proud that I'grand graduating. I had so much help from my daughter and my friend, Lesley. I would always tell Lesley, "I'm quitting this class." Every semester, I was "quitting a class" and every semester, I didn't.

In the beginning, I was insecure about the work I did. I could exercise information technology, and I would get an A, only I didn't think I was good plenty. Yet, I was able to perform and do well. It gave me a lot more confidence. I was always able to exercise amend than I idea I could exercise, so psychologically, when I kept saying I couldn't do information technology and wanted to quit, I call up I just wanted somebody to tell me I could do it.

What are your plans subsequently you graduate?

I'll probably take classes even when I finish. I like being around the people at the university. It keeps me thinking young. I feel a part of something.

Electronic mail Lauren Cheramie at Lauren.Cheramie@TheAdvocate.com or follow her on Twitter, @LCheramie_.

Source: https://www.theadvocate.com/louisiana_inspired/84-year-old-uno-student-set-to-graduate-with-honors/article_dd497832-f2a5-5d21-bc11-97cb5069aa42.html

Share this post