A retired mechanic is returning to school in the fall to pursue Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Math. Military training that required jumping off a 10-meter platform provides the central metaphor. Fear of heights made the jump difficult, but a step-by-step approach—walking to the edge, placing toes on the edge, looking around, closing eyes, holding breath, and stepping—helps overcome fear. The descent triggers a racing heart, instincts to swim, and an emergent sense of relief. Emerging from the water and taking a breath symbolizes recovery and continuation. Entering the classroom evokes the same process: fear followed by adaptive instincts driving progress toward the degree.
Walking up to the edge (going back to school) is scary. Don't look back, walk up, put your toes on the edge. Look left, look right, look up, look down, look straight, and take a step. For me, I close my eyes, hold my breath, and take that first step. It's scary every time. Your heart is racing on the way down, you hit the water, and your instincts kick in to swim up.
Pop your head out and grab that first breath of fresh air. Look around, realize you're okay, and just keep swimming. And that's going back to school at 40 in a nutshell. It's scary, but you've got to put your toes on the edge, look around, and take that first step. It will be scary. There's no doubt about that. Once you hit that water (classroom), your instincts will kick in. You'll pop up for some fresh air and head straight for your degree.
Collection
[
|
...
]