About 15 percent of Ball State's student body is considered non-traditional or over age 24. Their age isn't their only challenge. Making the decision to go back to college requires a sacrifice of monumental proportions. Many face the additional responsibilities of managing a household, children and -- quite often -- a full-time job.
Justin Oliver and Tina Merryweather are both non-traditional students.
"I have to be sure I have enough time to study," Oliver said, "I want to keep my grades up and sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day to accomplish all I need to do."
Oliver smiled as he answered questions about making it all work. Two days into the semester in Spring 2003 he received word he would be going to Iraq. He spent six months on active duty and has now resumed his college career. Oliver juggles being a full-time student with coaching varsity football at Delta High School, being a husband and raising a two-year-old son.
A technical education major, Oliver hopes to teach industrial arts at the high school level and continue to coach football. He made this decision after having a series of jobs that provided little opportunity for advancement. He wants to be a teacher because he believes he can make a positive difference in the lives of high school students.
With all the time management issues involved, Oliver finds little time to sleep. "I got used to lack of sleep when I was in Iraq," Oliver said, "I was lucky if I slept two hours a night there."
For non-traditional students, attending college becomes a family affair. Oliver's wife, Brandie, supplements the family income by working as a hairdresser and handling most of the household duties. Spending time with Oliver's two-year-old son, Kade, is very important.
"I always manage to spend time with my son everyday, usually before his bedtime," Oliver said.
Oliver has a goal and is persistent in achieving it. Being a Marine, Oliver knows about discipline. He said,
"Being undisciplined, rude or late to class just doesn't fit into my scheme of things," Oliver said. "School is too important to me."
Tina Merryweather, a divorced mother of three teens, is a non-traditional student with a different perspective. Merryweather grew up in an environment that placed very little value on education. College has given her a sense of personal achievement.
Merryweather is a general education major with a minor in women's studies and counseling. Recalling the first time she entered the classroom Merryweather said she felt very intimidated by her fellow classmates.
"I knew these kids had just finished high school and had a real grasp of all the technology, computers and information," Merryweather said. "I was scared to death and felt very inadequate."
Merryweather soon learned that her life experiences had prepared her for the challenges she had to face in the classroom.
"I guess the other students were just as intimidated by me, " Merryweather said.
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