Starting college can be nerve-wracking for any student.
Try jumping into the process for the first time at age 42.
There are people who start or go back to college years - even decades - after high school.
Non-traditional students have a number of years more experience to share, but traditional students don't often give them a chance.
Whatever path a student is on, he deserves equal treatment from his peers.
For many non-traditional students, college is not a given. They make sacrifices to get the same education that some students take for granted.
Yet some feel like outcasts. They go to the library and get asked to show their IDs. They walk into a class and get questioning looks from other students.
And they're paying the same tuition and working towards goals just like everyone else.
Older students often have families and responsibilities. They do not have mommy and daddy paying for housing and tuition. Some of these students are a mommy or daddy.
Every student has a place at this university and experiences to offer.
That's the beauty of college - it's an example of the melting pot this country was founded on.
The greater number of views from various walks of life leads to a more well-rounded student body.
The majority of that student body consists of undergraduates on a path straight out of high school; however, they are not alone in the classrooms of this campus.
Non-traditional and even graduate students often feel ousted because of their class rank, but they're also the ones with a more encompassing view of life.
Next time you have to break into groups, instead of immediately joining your friends, take the time to look around for the opportunity to experience a new perspective on college ... and life.
Everyone has a lot to learn from each other. We just need to try.
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