Thursday, January 30, 1997
Love of education draws graduates and older
students back to UCLABy Carol McKay
Daily Bruin Contributor
Robbie Gordon, a third-year sociology student, looks like many
other students on campus. She wears a backpack, a navy blue UCLA
baseball cap, and carefully balances a stack of papers and a hot
cup of coffee. The only difference between Gordon and the majority
of the student population is that she’s 74 years old.
"I don’t feel different than anyone else in classes or on
campus. Others may view me as different, but I don’t feel
different. And that’s what’s important," Gordon said.
Students over the age of 25 make up 9.3 percent of the
undergraduate population, according to the Office of Academic
Planning. And according to students on campus, they’re easy to
spot.
"They usually sit in the front rows, and they always ask a lot
of questions. They’re not afraid to raise their hand," said Maisha
Elonai, a first-year English student.
However, students like Elonai show mixed feelings toward the
heavy degree of participation by the more experienced members of
their classes.
"I think older students can either help or hurt a class," Elonai
said, recalling an example of a "good" older student in her women’s
studies class who brought her experiences to the discussion. "She
had lived what we were talking about. She was as good as a source
book."
Other times, Elonai said, older students can hinder discussion,
showing disrespect to professors and the class as a whole.
"A man in my psychology lecture interrupted a lot and brought up
irrelevant points. It was really annoying. It was like he had
something to prove," Elonai said.
Gordon admits that she’s more outgoing than most students. "I
lost my shyness 40 years ago," she said. "I’m not intimidated by my
professors, not like you kids. Maybe I intimidate them."
Professors often find that older students like Gordon enrich the
class.
"They bring more life experience. I don’t know if I would call
them better students, but often they have a better sense of what
they want to do. They’re more likely to take a class out of pure
enjoyment rather than as a requirement," said Tom Plummer, an
anthropology professor.
Because older students take classes entirely for themselves, the
amount of stress involved in traditional college experiences is
lessened.
"If I was taking this class when I was a full-time student here,
I would already be thinking about the midterm," said Millicint
Stein, a 71-year-old student.
Stein, who graduated with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from UCLA in the 1950s, said she has been taking classes on campus
through the extension program and at local community colleges for
several years.
Stein is currently auditing a plant life biology class, in which
she became interested after completing training for a position as a
docent at the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Gardens.
"My family got a kick out of the fact that I never stopped going
to school. (People) tend to think of education as a terminated
thing," Stein said. "When (people) graduate, it’s such a relief.
For me, it wasn’t too long until I was back."
Stein says that much has changed since her time as an undergrad.
"Not all for the better," she said. "Parking was terrible then too,
but the campus had a much more beautiful feeling to it.
"I remember when I used to sit in the arches of Royce Hall and
do French homework, stretching out my legs in the sun. I miss
that," Stein said.
Gordon chose to begin classes at UCLA in 1993 because "it was
just something I always wanted to do. This was the only school I
wanted to go to," Gordon said. "I gambled … I didn’t apply
anywhere else."
As an older student, Gordon feels that she has the advantage of
having "experienced life," but also notices that she is "really
competing with the young people. I thought I was pretty smug when I
came here … These young people are brilliant  it humbles
me," she said.
Older students returning to the classroom often find they are
able to more fully appreciate their opportunities at the
university.
"I place a tremendous value on the education by virtue of my
age," Gordon said. She advises younger students that, "they should
remember that they are here by choice. It’s a privilege to go to
college. I know how lucky I am."
Stein agreed. She is taking only one class, in an area in which
she was previously interested. "I’m doing this for myself," Stein
said.
"I take fewer notes … Nothing hinges on this class except my
interest. Most students aren’t that lucky."
For Gordon and Stein, their interests in returning to school
caused them to make sacrifices in the rest of their lives.
Balancing time between families and trips to campus coffee shops
has been tough, but worthwhile, says Gordon, thanks to the support
of her family.
"My husband has had very few home-cooked meals in the last three
years," Gordon said. Spending an estimated 25-30 hours a week on
campus and at least that much time studying at home, Gordon said
that she has had to put some past hobbies on hold until she
completes her degree.
"I study on the weekends; I don’t play," said Gordon, who used
to be an avid skier and tennis player. To supplement the lost
physical activity, Gordon has taken up dance classes at UCLA.
On her way toward a bachelor of science degree in sociology,
Gordon plans to graduate in June and to continue her volunteer work
at area clinics.
"I really want it. I really want to graduate. That’s what has
sustained me. I never doubted I would make it. I only doubted what
condition I would make it in," Gordon said of the approaching
day.
"My biggest joy will come when I walk down the aisle and turn
the tassel. I get excited and nervous just thinking about it."
Not that she doesn’t ever get a little sleepy in class. Gordon
recalled a less-than-exciting psychology lecture: "I thought I
would die. One of my biggest fears was that I would sleep through a
class. But I did manage to stay awake," she said. But Gordon had to
stay awake  she was sitting in the front row.
JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin
Robbie Gordon (center), a 74 year-old sociology major graduation
this spring, takes part in stretching exercises in her Movement as
Cultural Behavior class in the Arts and Cultures department.
(left) Robbie Gordon (center), a 74-year-old sociology student
graduating this spring, stretches in her Movement as Cultural
Behavior class in the World Arts and Cultures department. (below)
Gordon shares a laugh with classmates Joe Nguyen (center) and
Patrick Redington between activities. (bottom right) Gordon wipes
sweat from her neck after a strenuous exercise. (bottom left)
Gordon cheers as her classmates complete a challenging exercise in
body control.JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin
Gordon shares a laugh with classmates Joe Nguyen (center) and
Patrick Redington in between activities. AARON TOUT
Gordon cheers as her classmates completes a challenging exercise
in body control.AARON TOUT
Gordon wipes perspiration from her neck after a strenuous
exercise.