• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

newsMilwaukee NNSMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / OPINION: Confessions from a 40-year-old ‘senior’ who’s thisclose to getting his undergraduate degree

OPINION: Confessions from a 40-year-old ‘senior’ who’s thisclose to getting his undergraduate degree

December 2, 2019 by Dwayne Burtin 1 Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Adult learners get their day in the sun during a special ceremony at MATC in May. (File photo by Mark Doremus)

Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.

Dwayne Burtin, deputy editor for digital at the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, writes about his decision to complete his degree as an adult student.

Why bother?

I’ve asked myself that question many times. It’s often given me pause and consequently caused several delays in the completion of my degree.

I found myself taking multiple semester breaks off, citing life and work as the reasons. There were always big projects that needed extra attention. Being a single parent didn’t make it easier. There was always a large demand for my time.

Fortunately, I got it together and got back on track. I’ll finish my final three credits in January.

As this part of my journey ends, I thought about a few of the takeaways I’ve gained through my experience. Here are five of them:

1. Setting an example for your kids, or someone else’s

My kids have always seen me work hard. I’ve tried to be a good example of a father, a man and a human being in general. I’ve made many mistakes; I’m human. Sometimes the best lessons we can give are birthed from our mistakes. Through them we learn to be resilient. We learn to rise and follow through.

My kids have seen me study. Complain about homework. And now they can see me walk the stage in my cap and gown knowing that I never gave up. That’s powerful.

2.  The ability to apply some lessons to life and work immediately

Being that I’m an adult working professional I’ve had to develop a lot of my soft skills in the real world. Some of what my classes had to offer I admittedly didn’t need.

However, my core studies and many of the other specialized courses I took were invaluable to me immediately.  I learned lessons that I could use in real life, at work, at home, even in my personal relationships.

“My kids have always seen me work hard. I’ve tried to be a good example of a father, a man and a human being in general. I’ve made many mistakes,” says Dwayne Burtin, pictured with his daughter, Angel, a freshman at Marquette University. Burtin will graduate in January. (Photo provided by Dwayne Burtin)

3.  Binge drinking is not a factor for you.

My daughter is now a freshman in college. I hear all the horror stories about students barfing all over campus and throughout the dorms. Newfound freedom plus alcohol equals lowered inhibitions — and did I mention barfing?

Those are 20-year-old problems. As a seasoned vet you already know your limits and you shouldn’t be out drinking with 20-year-olds anyway.

4.  You can appreciate education in a way you never could as an 18-year-old

Younger me hated being in school. There were so many other things I wanted to do with my time that were way more interesting than sitting in a class.

Older me loves being in class learning new things. Gaining new insight.

College has increased my world view.

I’ve always been considered smart, and I’ve always been good about seeking out information on my own. But there’s only so far you can go on your own without a tour guide.

The directed learning helps give meaning and focus, and a more seasoned student can soak up more than a traditional college undergrad.

5. It’s an accomplishment. A big one.

It’s definitely something to be proud of. If you’re an undergrad in college and you are 40+, it’s likely that you weren’t on an easy path in life. You worked hard. You gained some real-world experience. You’ve seen some things. Done some things, too.

Yet here you are.

In college, finishing your undergraduate degree. Who wouldn’t admire you for that?

It takes guts.

Admiration itself should never be the goal. Realistically, you should always be striving to become a better version of you.

But going back to school and completing a degree at 40 makes you a damn hero, and we all admire heroes.

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Home, Neighborhoods, News

Dwayne Burtin

About Dwayne Burtin

Facebook |  Twitter | More stories from Dwayne

Experienced Web Producer with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Strong media and communication professional skilled in Web Design, Marketing Strategy, Social Media, Training, and User Experience (UX).

Comments

  1. AvatarMary Pat Pfeil says

    December 2, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    Congratulations, Dwayne. You have much to be proud of.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Top Stories

Advertisement

How To …

How to avoid stimulus check scams

A new round of stimulus checks will likely also bring out a new round of scams. Here’s what to watch out for.

More "How To" articles

Advertisement

Recommended Reading

A Vaccine Reality Check

The Atlantic

UWM study on the state of Black Milwaukee describes the city as ‘the epitome of a 21st century racial regime’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Videos Show How Federal Officers Escalated Violence in Portland

The New York Times

These mayors want to fight Covid-19 and the recession with one big idea: A guaranteed income

Vox

The World John Lewis Helped Create

The Atlantic

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Videos
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect Radio

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Internship opportunities
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in