Carol D'Alba and Charlie Feagin are two of the approximately 1,200 non-traditional undergraduate students at UB.
A non-traditional student is an individual over the age of 25 pursuing a degree, according to Diane McMahon, senior advisor specializing in non-traditional students for Student Advising Services.
Although non-traditional students attend the same classes and fulfill the same requirements as other students, they have a very different college experience and unique reasons for being in school.
"Some people might be regretful, others see that the experiences they have gone through give them more skills," said Liz Snider, assistant clinical director for Counseling Services, which provides a weekly therapy workshop for non-traditional and graduate students. "The road less traveled doesn't mean it's a worse road; it's just a different road."
D'Alba, a 38-year-old wife and mother of two, finally heard her calling and resolved to become a high school English teacher. She went through the traditional process of earning a bachelor's degree in communication at UB and subsequently worked in public relations and marketing jobs, after which she was a stay-at-home mom for seven years. On top of family and school, D'Alba also coaches baseball and basketball.
D'Alba says her husband's support has been instrumental in allowing her to achieve her degree.
"I can't imagine doing it alone," she said. "I'm very lucky because my husband is very supportive, so at home I have a lot of help."
On the other hand, Feagin, a 40-year-old single father of three, has to depend on after-school programs and family members to care for his daughter and twin sons while he attends night classes. Feagin also takes classes during the day but must make up the hours he's missing at his full-time job.
He has been working toward earning a degree on and off for 14 years in order to "legitimize" his knowledge of electrical engineering for his job. Previously, Feagin served in the Navy for six years as a reactor operator on aircrafts and earned an associate's degree. He DJs as a hobby and hopes to open his own lounge one day.
Both D'Alba and Feagin do not get to spend as much time with their children as they would like; they must make adjustments to keep their education in the background. D'Alba does her schoolwork during breaks between classes and after the children have gone to sleep. Feagin brings his books to the playground while he watches his children play.
D'Alba's children have changed the way she views pursuing a degree. Reading her daughter's journal assignments for school put things into perspective for D'Alba after she realized that she was not mentioned even once.
"I want to do well, but I realize there is so much more," she said. "In one of my classes, a girl walked out of a test crying. To me, it seems like such a small moment in your life. In 10 years, you'll look back and say 'who cares about that really?'"
According to D'Alba, she always tries her best, but there are some things that are more important than a grade, such as her children's education, family and health.
Feagin is glad to get an education that allows him to learn the theories behind what he does each day at work. However, he wishes he had pursued a degree earlier in life so he could be dedicated to learning rather than splitting his life between work and school.
"You don't want to be like us - make sure you ask the right questions to yourself," he said. "We're kind of playing make-up...it's important to know what you really want."
At UB, non-traditional students are just one of the many groups that creates the University's diversity. Age sets the group apart from the rest. Feagin believes their points of view are equally as important as those of anyone else.
"I think everyone's perspective is valuable, no matter how old you are."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
