Host intro: Christine Rodriguez is a 53 year old recent Nursing School graduate from the College of Staten Island. Journalist Ricardo Nenadich sits down with Christine and they will be discussing how older adults are returning to the classroom after many years to pursue their dream careers.
Track: I’m here with Christine Rodriguez and she explains how difficult it was for her to regain her footing after being removed from school for so many years.
Act: Christine: It was a difficult decision for me to return to school. I wanted to be a nurse and I knew the only way I can make that dream come true was to go back to school. I had to relearn a lot of what was taught to me many years ago. I had to take many math classes and that was difficult for me.
Track: Christine was surprised about how welcomed she was by all the students. She was put into a classroom with students more than half her age and she felt very intimidated.
Act: Christine: I have to admit it was very intimidating being around a bunch of twenty something students. Many of them approached me and thought I was the professor. I laughed and told them I am a nursing student. They told me it was cool that I was going back to school to pursue my passion.
Track: When Christine graduated from the College of Staten Island with her degree in Nursing she felt a sense of pride.
Act: Christine: I was overcome with emotion the day of graduation. My husband, my son and my elderly father attended the commencement ceremony. When I walked across the stage I can see the pride in my families face. I knew at that moment I made the right decision.
Track: For many older adults returning to school is a dream that they say is unattainable. But at 53 years old Christine Rodriguez made that dream a reality. For Baruch College, I’m Ricardo Nenadich.