Back to School at Sixty-Two
A Non-Traditional Student’s Journey at UNA
By Kurt Vetters
As I march down the road to retirement, still at least five years away, it has become clear to me that everyone I know who remains active in mind and body ages well. Part of this journey is maintaining proficiency in the myriad of systems that we all face every day. From banking to grocery shopping, from correspondence to charity work, everything has an app or an interface that must be navigated. For me, history has always been my hobby, and writing has been a passion, so it seems a natural next step for me to enter into the world of professional public history. As luck would have it, I recently moved to downtown Florence, right by the University of North Alabama. It is my goal to become a docent in the Florence area, so living so close to a university with a top-notch Public History program really helped everything to fall into place.
Going back to school at sixty-two was initially a bit intimidating, but after meeting Dr. Makowski to learn about the process, meeting with the UNA Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and, most importantly, consulting with my family, I decided to take the plunge. To begin my journey, I had to provide references and submit some writing samples. I’m a novelist on the side and do quite a few Civil War-related book talks to organizations across the country, so I had a nice list of writing samples to draw from. I also had several friends who were kind enough to write references for me. I always say, “Be kind to people and others will be kind in return.” The biggest challenge was getting signed into my new Student Portal and understanding where to find class registration, and then deciphering the class assignment system. Even though I live close, all my classes are virtual, and it took a bit of looking to find Canvas, the platform we use for class. I’m hoping that in the future, the UNA History Graduate Student Association can team up new students with mentors who can show them the ropes and be there for those simple questions that sometimes make this fun experience a struggle.
I don’t know all the ropes yet, but I’m slowly finding mentors, and the professors are happy to assist. Don’t be afraid to start the journey and know that we have much to offer as we move through the later years of life. My Mom at eighty runs a music school, and she got her Art degree from UNA in her sixties. She is my hero and my example to live life and keep pushing the envelope!
Cover Photo: Kurt participating in the excavation of the newly discovered cistern at the Pope’s Tavern Museum with the Archeology Club. Photo Courtesy of Kurt Vetters.
