I'm not certain that I'm actually the World's Oldest Journalism Undergraduate, but at 63 years old, I'm sure that I'm close to the top of the range. On August 25th I'll reach a landmark. It will be the beginning of my second year of being surrounded by students roughly one-third my age, and being taught by professors half my age.
I'm looking forward to it. I took one course in the seven week summer semester, and I'm now returning to my two course schedule. It's my version of a full course load. I'll graduate in about another two years at this leisurely rate.
My level of excitement about embarking on a new career is still high, although the four week break was pleasant.
This semester my plan is to take the first in a series of media writing classes. I have two journalism courses behind me, but one of them was a research class, and the other was an overall survey of the communications industry, which included an overview of public relations and publicity. Media writing should get me into the nitty gritty of crafting sentences and paragraphs. That's why I'm back in school, and I'm excited.
I'm in no hurry to graduate. I've already set up the infrastructure for a local online news site specializing in explanatory journalism, and I intend to launch it in the spring of next year. I'll already be grinding out stories before I finish the course work for my degree. The classes will improve my craft, the diploma will be a good credential, not to mention a boost to my ego, but I can write and hire freelance writers before I finish the program.
Life is good.