Posted by Jennifer Werner

I’m really excited about 2010 because I turned 50 last December 19th (that’s the first time I’ve seen THAT in writing – it didn’t sting as much as I thought it would), and I’ve decided that this is the year I am going to bloom.

Now, to explain why that’s important to me…when I was in my 30s, my mother was so concerned about me and how my life was going that she talked to my brother, David, who told her, “Don’t worry. Jennie’s got a lot going on right now but when she turns 40, she’s going to bloom!” Well, guess what? I didn’t bloom – I pretty much stayed the same person I was – just older and maybe a bit wiser, but far from blooming.

However, when I was 48 I did START the process of blooming – I enrolled in the School for Professional Studies (SPS) at SLU through the Bridges to Bachelor’s Program at work. I’ve been attending two classes per term for the last two years, and with every class I complete, I can feel myself grow! Not physically, of course, but mentally, emotionally, intellectually, I feel like I’m becoming a better person and learning more and more about myself as I go along.

I’m not saying it’s been easy – the classes are regular college classes taught by college professors, and I know there are people out there who feel they (as adult learners) should be given a break because they work and go to school – but I’ve found all my professors to be very understanding and willing to work with me if something comes up.

So, even though I didn’t plan it, enrolling in the SPS program was one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time. Anyway, that’s it for now, more to come later, but I do promise to stay off my SPS soapbox next time!

Photo Credit: http://www.freeimages.co.uk/