Kathy Wilson doesn’t care if it takes her six years to graduate from college.

She just wants a degree.

By day, Wilson is a hardworking mother of two, a wife, a worker.

By night, she’s an undergraduate student juggling all of those things, plus homework, plus tests, plus studying and reading.

Wilson is a little bit of everything, you might say.

She’s Baker University’s academic services assistant, a communication major and a non-traditional student all rolled into one.

COMING BACK<em>COMING BACK</em> COMING BACK

For many non-traditional students like Wilson, college is a second chance, a second try.

Wilson took some classes at the University of Kansas before dropping out to have her son, Michael.

“It was always in my plan to finish my degree,” Wilson said.

But starting a family didn’t suppress Wilson’s desire to learn, to achieve, to graduate.

Rather, Wilson has always wanted to return, and working at Baker, being surrounded by students and professors, only added to that enthusiasm.

“I have always felt so alive in an educational atmosphere,” Wilson said. “I just thrive in that type of atmosphere.”

COMMITTING TO THE CAUSE<em>COMMITTING TO THE CAUSE</em> COMMITTING TO THE CAUSE

When Connie Wadkins enrolled in classes last summer, she knew what she wanted, what she was here for.

Wadkins already had a business degree from Ottawa University. She didn’t need another one of those. Rather, Wadkins wanted a teaching degree, wanted teacher certification.

“I went to work for 15 or 16 years and decided I was tired of it so I started subbing,” she said.

Since Wadkins already had a degree, she didn’t have to take as many classes as the traditional student would have had to take.

Currently, Wadkins is completing her student teaching semester and will graduate this May.

“I’ve just really enjoyed the experience,” she said.

JUGGLING LIFE<em>JUGGLING LIFE</em> JUGGLING LIFE

Going to school is John Stutzman’s full-time job.

When he's at Baker, the business major focuses on schoolwork, on tests, on reading.<br/>When he's at home, he focuses on his family, his wife, his son.When he's at home, he focuses on his family, his wife, his son.
When he’s at home, he focuses on his family, his wife, his son.

“I have a family,” Stutzman said. “I have a kid and a mortgage.”

Stutzman, and the more than 20 other degree- seeking students above the age of 25, won’t let any of those obstacles prevent him from graduating, from getting the degree he needs.

“I’ve gotten more gray hair since I started school,” he said. “I worry about studying and getting good grades.”

But Stutzman’s wife understands what he’s doing, she supports his decision to go back to school. His 8-year-old son understands, too.

“His study skills have improved because he sees me studying,” he said.

FITTING IN AND GETTING OUT<em>FITTING IN AND GETTING OUT</em> FITTING IN AND GETTING OUT

Wilson knows she stands out in a classroom.

She’s eager, sometimes too eager, to learn. Her age might give her away, too.

“I don’t want to make any other student feel uncomfortable,” she said. “I’m very much aware, and I try not to take away from their classroom experience. I want to acclimate to their classroom.”

Despite these things, Wilson feels privileged to sit beside traditional students, beside 18 to 22 year old undergrads.

“I think it’s one of those lifelong goals, lifelong accomplishments,” she said. “I am goal oriented. At this point, I would love to graduate.”