University of Maryland Spring 2010

As usual you've missed my point.... I am happy that you have 'experienced' life and done many things, finance, the military, etc.... AWESOME... does that make you better... not always.... does it make you a better nurse.... sometimes not.... rarely does an older person want to hear what the 'younger' generation has to say.

The best lab partner I ever had was a 32 year old working Mom, no she wasn't an ex-gun trigger puller, BUT she did have a previous degree and job.

However, she didn't throw it in my face all the time or remind me constantly that she was older and had experienced life and had other degrees and other careers.

Just a thought. Would it make me a better person to quit pursing nursing.... and major in something else and then be a nurse?

I am sorry that the girls thought you'd be shaky with your hands. I've also done that lab, and my older lab partners for that class refused to do it because they didn't want to...they actually watched me and Kayla do all the labs.... so congratulations for having confidence that your hands would work out... too bad I couldn't have experienced you for that lab....

like mother_matters said, it goes both ways, but I just prefer to not be surrounded by older students again... but that is only my opinion.

Whoa JumpforJune----How could this be "as usual"---I don't even know you and this is the first dialogue we've ever had! Seriously, my post was a tongue-in-cheek anecdote about my own experience. It was not a personal attack on you.

Yes, I have real-world experiences and educational accomplishments that can only be achieved with time and age. I've worked really, really hard to get to this point in my life. I've also experienced allot of heartbreak and many disappointments along the way. I also have the varicose veins, crows feet, and aches in my joints that only come with age---you'll know what I mean 20 years from now. I'm truly impressed with all that you're doing on your own at age 19---you're well on your way to achieving great things!

I wish you the best of luck---remember, we're all in this together. One of the reasons that I love being back in school is because I'm surrounded by the energy and enthusiasm of youth. That is one of the many gifts that you will bring to the nursing profession. I hope you will also keep an open mind and remember that the older students may occassionally have a perspective that is worth considering.

Keep us posted on your progress---I'm sincerely interested in hearing how nursing school goes for you. You're only young once and I hope you find a school environment that satisfies you on an academic and a social level. Everything you've said makes me feel even better about UMB.

JumpforJune---One other little piece of friendly advice that I meant to include in my previous message. You might want to be careful about being so vocal about your disdain for older people. School administrators are reading these message boards (yes, I'm also keeping that in mind---especially since we're still waiting on admissions decisions and it's pretty easy to figure out who we are!). Out in the real world, biases like these can get you in allot of trouble (think EEOC complaint). In the future, it is very likely that you will care for older patients, you'll work with older colleagues, and, eventually, since you're starting your nursing career young, you'll probably have employees who work for you who are older than you. You could never get away with saying the kind of things you said in your message if you were referring to someone's race, someone's gender, someone's sexual orientation, etc---age isn't any different. That's all from me---I think we're all getting a little punchy from this admissions uncertainty.

Mother_M,

Thanks for the laugh... I concur with you! 38 y/o ex-military here also with (EXPERT) qualifications lol. I've had similar experiences. I've learn to just chuckle at ignorant comments... It's funny though, most students don't know my age because I look 25 at the most. It's only when they find out my true age that most of my negative experiences/comments occur, never mind the fact that I have previous degrees, probably the highest average in my classes, much world knowledge, and have traveled the world. I think that because we are in an academic setting, students tend to see us as JUST student. I feel that maybe sometimes they see our willingness to help as "bragging" or belittling, in terms of saying "look what I've accomplished and look what you haven't." Although, when we were their age, we MAY have thought the same way. However, if someone is trying to make anyone feel insignificant by way of flaunting their expericence then that is unfortunate and quite immature. We all have to rememeber that everyone had to start some where. Again, thanks for the laugh.. good to know that I'm not alone.

LOL!! That put a smile on my face. Yes, we thirty-somethings are just about dead, huh? I sense quite a bit of anger JumpforJune. Clearly you don't think that someone would go to nursing school just to add some excitement to their otherwise boring life. Nursing school is not something to be taken lightly, and it is an honor and something that must be earned through very hard work and dedication. If I am bored, I will take up a much easier hobby. Anyway, good luck to you in your career and when you are our age, you will look back and realize how immature everything you said was.

Good luck to all in this waiting game!

Nevermind, on this topic, I will not reply anymore, but thank you for the points and replies.
Thought it was funny how some still counldn't resist adding that they've traveled the world & have have other degrees, but nevermind that

But wait, JumpforJune---in the spirit of honest debate---how is their biographical information any different from you bragging to us that you're 19, you got into Towson, you work 60 hours a week, and you pay for your own insurance and apartment? This background information helped us form a clearer picture of you just like other's background information helps us know them better in this online community. In addition to your age prejudice, I'm also concerned about your attitude against people who have served in the military (another protected group that shouldn't be discriminated against since they were willing, if necessary, to sacrifice their life in defense of your freedom). I am going to ignore your "ex-gun-trigger-puller" slur though I can't promise that other veterans on this list who have lost friends and colleagues in Afghanistan and Iraq will be so forgiving. I sense a bumpy road ahead for you.....