60-Year-Old College Student a Model of Recreating Self-Image

Santee resident Peg Marcus knows that the key to success in school lies in putting away old models of belief she had long held about herself. As a result, although she got a late start at , she does as well if not better than most of the students thirty and forty years younger than she.

At 60 years of age, Peg is just a semester away from in Behavioral and Social Science. Her academic record and personal story of success has made an impression on , Career Center Director at the college. Marcus was one in a panel of speakers featured at the “” seminar at the Adult Re-Entry Program.

“Peg is a wonderful example of who a college re-entry student is, and what they can do,” Davis said.

Indeed, Peg has come a long way since she first told us about her plans at her birthday party back in 2007. She and her husband Jeff along with me and my husband and another couple went to the restaurant to celebrate her birthday. Just as we were lifting their glasses to toast Peg, an enigmatic smile came over her face.

“I have something to tell everyone,” she said, looking at Jeff. He nodded, urging her to go on.

“I’m going to go to school. I’m going to get a nursing degree,” she said.

Everyone had even more reason to cheer and celebrate. Peg’s warm, melodious laugh filled the room as we ate, drank and asked her questions.

was somewhat of a career change for her, as she had been a professional clown for years. She used to entertain children at their parties, calming some of their fears about clowns. She used to be afraid of clowns herself, so she knew the best way to talk with the children.

She had her own fears and doubts about going to college, of course. But the desire for her dream overcame her fears. The dream first opened up to her in 1985, when she was working at in Lakeside.

“The nurse who was in charge of my shift began encouraging me to go to nursing school,” Peg said. So she did actually get a credential as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Fifteen years later, Peg remarried, and her older brother had moved in with my husband and me. He was terminally ill and needed care.

“He constantly encouraged me to return to my dream of being a nurse and succeeded in enlisting my husband’s support in his goal,” Peg said.

Unfortunately, because she waited until late August and , Peg had to return in January of 2008 before she could begin her quest.

She is still on track for a nursing degree. However, because of the , which mean fewer classes and more competition for those classes, it has taken much longer than she anticipated.

Peg’s personal faith helps her to not panic in attaining her goals. “I personally believe that this is a path that God chose for me, and I don’t know His entire plan,” she said.

The most difficult thing about returning to school was finding balance between studying, attending classes and still having a life outside of school. She initially worried about being the oldest one on campus and the reception from professors and the young students.

“Because I had never been to college, coupled with the fact that I had quit high school 42 years prior, my biggest fear was that I would not be able to absorb the information needed to succeed,” she said.

“All of my fears were unfounded,” she said. “The professors love re-entry students because we have already been in the work force, are usually better about quickly learning to balance our schedules, and know how to follow and make school a priority.”

In fact, Peg did so well that by her third semester, she was already invited to join Phi Theta Kappa; the International Honor Society.

Qualifying for the honor society is one thing, but attending the induction was quite another. “I invited 16 friends and fellow students and 14 of them attended,” she said.

“The letters of recommendation that I have received from faculty, staff and administration still touch me. I have kept copies and read them when I feel stressed.”

The very next semester, she became president of the society.

“I had never been in a formal leadership position before,” she said.

This fall semester, Peg will continue to be active in Phi Theta Kappa with many fund-raising responsibilities. On Monday mornings each week from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in between pouring over her science books, Peg will be serving up muffins and yogurt cups. As lunch-time rolls around, the menu will include salmon burgers.

When the semester starts on August 22, Peg will be practically living on campus, she’ll spend so many hours there. But her husband is very supportive of her.

“Because I have become active in fundraising for and in leadership conferences, Jeff comes on campus to assist with some of the things I am doing so that we still get to spend time together,” she said.

Jeff has gotten to know some of the people that I talk about on a regular basis. He is excited about the prospect of her being a nurse.

He notices that Peg is happier, too, in better spirits, because she is fulfilling a lifelong dream, one that she never thought possible.

Everyone on campus notices Peg for her helpfulness and big smile.

 “Peg is such a joy,” Davis said. “It has been wonderful to watch her learn and grow these last couple of years.”

 So for the next week, Peg will be going to the beach, to Balboa Park, out for coffee with friends. Then she’ll be ready to hit the books again.

For more information about the Adult Re-Entry Program at Grossmont College, call 619-644-700 and ask for Nancy Davis at the Career Center.