Meet The Rambler...

Hi! 
I am Gretel and I am a non traditional college student!
What is a "non traditional college student" you ask? Well, there is not a clear definition. 

You may be a Non Traditional College Student if:

- you do not go to college in the same year you graduate high school
- you attends college part time
- you work full time while enrolled in school
- you are considered independent when it comes to financial aid
- you have  dependents other than a spouse (children, etc)
- you are a single parent
- you received a GED instead of a high school diploma
These are not the only qualifications, but they make up the majority.

I am considered a non traditional college student because I am a 31 year old, stay at home wife and mother of 2. I attempted college right out of high school and found that I wasn't ready. Instead, I worked and partied, got married and then divorced to my first husband, and continued to work and party. 
I have wanted to go back to school for 8 years now. For 2 of those years, I made excuses. Then my now husband (boyfriend at the time) talked me into getting rid of the excuses and go! My husband, who I will refer to as The Hubby, had been a traditional college student, going to college right after high school and earning 2 degrees in 4 years at Adams State. 

So there I was, sending my application to Metro State University of Denver, applying for financial aid, and re-learning Algebra so I could take placement tests. And I find out that I was pregnant! I was working full time and planned on going back to school full time. Now I am going to be pregnant on top of it. So, I decided to wait on school till after the baby was born. This was the best decision I could make! I had morning sickness so bad through most of my pregnancy that I had to go from full time to part time at my job. School would not have happened!

The Hubby and I had decided it would be best for our family of 3 if I stayed home with our son, The Boy. So I did. And I waited for 2 years till I thought about going back to school.

I decided to look at going to school part time at a community college. As I started to gather information, I found out I was pregnant AGAIN with our daughter, The Girl!
The Hubby and I were seeing a trend. Attempt college, get pregnant!

After The Girl was born healthy and beautiful, The Hubby decided to go get "snipped". No more babies and I would have a chance to go back to school!

I start at Community College of Aurora (CCA) in 2 weeks! The Boy is going to kindergarten in a week! And The Girl is a very independent 2 year old who can not wait to go to preschool next year! 

What can you expect from my blog? Rambling, as you can read!

Here you will find my experiences and feelings on going back to school in my 30's at the same time, maintaining a family, marriage and everything else life throws at me!