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Write a story about someone going back to school as a mature student.

Posted in High School on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 88 stories

Struggles of an Aging Coed

Submitted to Contest #54

Struggles of an Aging Coed            I was perhaps not the oldest college student in the world, but I may have come close. When I could finally afford to matriculate, my two children were almost ready for higher education themselves. As I toiled down the lonely road of education with my fresh-cheeked, youthful fellow students, my age led to many well-intentioned but juvenile comments and instructors who were almost young enough to be my kids. These situations often led to ...

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His Name Was Lou, But I Called Him Orneriness!

Submitted to Contest #54

I remember the first day I met Lou like it was yesterday. There he stood in front of my desk with his briefcase on his left arm, a large cup of Coke Coca from Hardee's in his left hand, and a cane in his right. Dressed in a new pair of creased jeans, just out of the plastic bag dress shirt, and a newsboy cap, it was his first day back to classes after a break. He looked down at me and said, "Y'all must be the new kid on the block. The new 'aminister' for this place." His name was Lou. I shook my head yes and introduced myself. That was ...

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Never Too Late

Submitted to Contest #54

   Mark reached into the mailbox with trembling hands. Same as every day for the last two weeks. There was only one article nestled beside the shiny flyer extolling the virtues of satellite TV. A full heavy envelope bearing the logo of a college. He carried the precious document into the kitchen and collapsed onto a chair. The object of his nightmares laying on the table.     After several deep breaths, he knew he could not put off the inevitable. With his callused hands, he opened and unfolded the letter. ...

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New Henry

Submitted to Contest #54

The jacarandas were in full bloom, silky petals sprinkling the walkway like a violet blanket of snow. Henry watched his feet cut a path through the vibrant blossoms. His gait was unsteady and he walked slowly, savoring the moment. He looked up as a pair of squawking crows flew overhead and settled onto a nearby tree branch. He stopped and turned his face to the September sun, allowing the warm rays to penetrate his skin. He took a long, deep breath, filling up his lungs and marveling over the fact that he was actually standing here on campus...

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The Voices Within

Submitted to Contest #54

 First day of school again. This year I’m determined. I will get to campus and I will get out of the car and go into the classroom and take a seat and wait, wait for the students to come in, wait for the professor to start going over the syllabus. This is my year. It has to be. It is. I compel myself to believe nothing but the fact that this is my year. That’s what you think. Ha, what an idiot! I am not an idiot and I am quite frankly done listening to you. I’ve worked in therapy for too many years to deal with you.  So what? ...

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Restarting

Submitted to Contest #54

The time had been long past when people used to call her as Miss Tate, her father’s name. Gone also were the days of the gentleman who imparted his surname, Joseph, to her. She chuckled at the idea of an empty nest–as her church ladies community kept referring to–considering it irrelevant. There was a time, she couldn’t exactly recall, when the future looked bright and they as newlywed planned childbirth and career progression while life decided to throw a random die and all plan went straight into the rubbish bin. Eva was born, then Grego...

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Tumbleweed Trials

Submitted to Contest #54

SStanding at the airport, just people watching. A skill one must learn, to fit in to a society where rainbow strands of hair fly freely, cowboy hats are strange looking in big cities, and preppies wear their clothing in perfect geometrical shapes to match their curved bodies. Going back to school after twenty years of being away is more nerve racking than trying to find your flight gate with the alphabet going backwards. I stood there staring at my ticket A-35. Shouldn't be so hard. I was at G-10, but running back and forth between gates ...

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AN OPEN DOOR

Submitted to Contest #54

She walked through the dawn on the quiet beach , observing the waves and marveling at the early wakening sounds of the new day. She absorbed the breeze and sounds of the waves, she pulled her shawl tighter then released it deciding instead to savor it.  Was it not a wonder how the dawn broke into daytime?Each day was different with its unique surprises and potential. She turned to face the surf and looked out to the far horizon, she saw the horizon where earth and sky meet and wondered what type of day it ...

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Glory Days

Submitted to Contest #54

Popcorn ceiling. He closed his eyes and opened them again. Popcorn ceiling.  “That’s strange.” Dave thought sleepily as he lay in bed looking up. He lay there staring at the ceiling as the faint glow of dawn pushed behind the blackout curtains. He shut his eyes quickly as the thought of the ceiling sunk in.  “I don’t have a popcorn ceiling in my house. We didn’t when we moved in and we didn’t when we remodeled 4 years ago. I remember because there was an argument over that. Where the hell am I?” Dave said ...

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Este es mi paìs

Submitted to Contest #54

Do you remember in school when they used to make you do perspective portraits? How the teachers spent weeks making sure that you understood how our intellectual minds perceived the world. As my brother and I walked down the winding road, I couldn’t help but imagine this scene as a painting. Tall but skinny trees and fat, luscious green bushes blocking the way between you and miles of yellow fields, lining the narrowing road. I wish that then, in school, I had known about the marvels of fields, so I could paint this picture. There are times w...

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¨My Latter Will Be Greater¨

Submitted to Contest #54

I was always a hopeful being.  As a lass, I had big dreams and visions for myself enjoying a satisfying and well paid career.  I always knew I would go to college even before I knew what responsibilities came attached with such a feat.  As an African American, where both parents are from the south, having a college education is as important as following Jesus! ¨Go to college, get a degree and get a good job¨, was a mantra for black families in the north and the south.  Being raised by a single mother without the support ...

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First Day of School

Submitted to Contest #54

Natalie walked away from the school building incredulously as she buttoned up her coat and wrapped her scarf around her neck. She couldn't believe they let her do it. "I can't wait to see what you come up with." And with that, her meeting with the school's principal ended, and her admission to this Millford High School – as a 23-year-old author – was secured. It was going to be her first time ever attending a public high school. She faltered for a moment at that thought. Was this really a good idea? While she was talking to her publisher yes...

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Houston...

Submitted to Contest #54

I’d left things in rather a mess. A generous handful of Fs and Incompletes defined a transcript that spoke of utter indifference; I couldn’t remember taking half of the classes that were indicated, and of the few that I could recollect, my memories were of minimal participation and reluctant labour. My best work had been in the invention of excuses for deadlines not met. In this regard, I had demonstrated diligence and guile - if Practicality had decided that an English degree made more sense than four years cavorting across the stage of th...

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