Every so often, especially when I'm feeling down, I take out my old college notes, textbooks and diplomas, and take a little stroll down the memory lane. I remember the fun I had in college, the people I met, the professors who taught me and the experiences that changed my life.

      And I'm glad I made the sacrifices.

      After graduating from high school, I thought college wasn't for me. I took a job with the postal service. In my naiveté I thought that moving up within the agency would be fairly easy. I was bright, knowledgeable, eager to learn new things and willing to put in the time needed to develop myself. But I ran into a brick wall. It seemed there was an inside track, and I was definitely not on it. After about a year and a half, I realized that my chances of advancement were nil, and it was time to do something about it.

      Since my job was leading me nowhere, I decided to start college.

      When I started, I encountered a lot of resistance from people at work. The phrase "career student" was bandied about at me, as if I was learning nothing practical and basically trying to avoid growing up. Actually it was the other way around. I saw staying in my job as a way to avoid facing responsibilities, and college as a more real world — and an island of sanity in my life.

      While it made little difference to me if my co-workers or bosses supported my decision to attend college, I did want my family behind me . The support was there — I didn't need any financial help, but I got a lot of moral support from my parents, as well as from friends and relatives.

      Probably the biggest obstacle I faced was just getting started.

      I had driven past the campus of Palm Beach Community College several times before I finally worked up the nerve to go into the admissions office. For many people that first step is a big one, and it's easy to believe that one is stepping into an abyss, but PBCC was flexible enough for me. I had to take the American College Test and, after scoring well on that, was able to register for classes.

      My first class was Introduction to the Social Sciences, and from the moment the professor began to lecture, I knew I had found a place where I could learn and grow.

      Once you've gone and done it, your biggest worry may be about what things are like in the classroom.

      You may be worried about how the professor will react to you. You needn't be that concerned. At the community college and the university I attended later, professors welcomed older students. We tended to be more focused on getting an education, had a lot to contribute to the class discussion because of our experience in the world and were less likely to argue over a grade.

      As you get to know your classmates in the class, you may find yourself gravitating toward other students your age. There's nothing wrong with this, but if there's a group project, the professor will probably want the generations to work together. This is a good opportunity to broaden your horizons.

      That doesn't mean you should just show up, take classes and take off. There may be a club or activity for your major on campus that can help you in your job search later on. You may even find that the company of other scholars will help you expand your intellectual horizons. And taking in a college sports event once in a while can be a fun way to meet other people.

      Graduation from Palm Beach Community College was a milestone in my life. Against the odds, I had achieved something. I was "walking on sunshine," as the song goes, and had learned to let all the negativity go in one ear and out the other. I had made friends with the professors, and the students I had worked with were wonderful. In truth, I was addicted to the challenges that college provided.

      I graduated from community college in December 1990, then started at Florida Atlantic University the following month.

      In April 1994, I had accumulated enough credits to graduate from FAU. It was a bittersweet occasion. Two months after graduation I left the post office, diploma in hand, and embarked on a new career. It hasn't always been easy and it hasn't always been that much fun, but I've never regretted reinventing my life.

      I am now a copy editor for a newspaper and have also earned a computer networking certification along the way.

      Even now, I have grand plans that involve law school someday, and maybe an MBA.

      A college degree opens doors. It might not be possible to see the doors when you are just starting out, but they are there if you have the patience and drive to pursue your dreams.

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