What surprised me the most when I returned to college
October 29, 2024
I was disappointed in my performance in my early college experience. I did well in some classes, not so well in others. I left college to get married after a year and a half. Don continued his education, and it was a joint effort. I typed many papers as he worked on his master’s at Baylor. We went to the library and researched his thesis, a fascinating subject —the history and speeches of the student protest movement, which was taking place even as he wrote, and I typed. Then, on to the University of Oklahoma where I typed his dissertation with many returned pages with corrections which was an education for me. Later, I realized that I indeed had gotten an education from all that I did to support Don. I was very proud of the effort we made together.
I had a strong desire to go back to school and finish my degree. I remember very well the night I asked my church community group to pray that this would be possible. I was in my mid-fifties, had been divorced and was working two jobs. I had a job as receptionist in the Outpatient Rehab Department at St. Francis Hospital, and I worked afternoons, leaving some time to take classes. My other job was one I did at home, medical transcription.
When I applied for a Pell Grant, I discovered the finances would work out. My counselor at Washburn University encouraged me to take something fun since I had been out of school for a while. I was welcomed by the students in the Lifetime Wellness class I chose which was swimming. The teacher told me the class was full, but she would let me in because “we just love our older students!” I felt a little rusty, and actually quite nervous taking the first two tests, but then I was okay and felt confident.
This is what surprised me as I made my three-year trek through required courses—I enjoyed my classes! What a treat to walk the campus with the younger students—and there were people my age, too, who were back to really make it good this time! I appreciate what I learned about geography with the professor who had travelled the world. My Music Appreciation class required me to go to White Concert Hall and I learned what a variety of music was being performed there and much of it was free. These are just two examples.
One of my most memorable experiences was in my Art Appreciation class. If you come to visit me, you will see it immediately upon opening the front door. The artist is Caravaggio who was born in Milan in 1571 and later went to Rome. He made religion come to life for the common man and my favorite is “The Calling of St. Matthew.”
This oil painting depicts the very moment Jesus Christ calls the tax collector Matthew to follow him. The painting shows Jesus, who can be identified with a faint halo, with Peter. Jesus points to Matthew who looks surprised. He points to himself as if to say “me?”
Our professor pointed out that at the bottom of the painting you can barely discern Jesus’ feet, but they are already turning as if to go. This was a brief encounter! The hand beckoning was all it took for Matthew to leave his place at the table counting money and follow Jesus.
This is how the scene is described in Matthew’s Gospel. “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.
‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”
The power of the person of Christ as depicted in this painting has inspired generations since its completion in 1599. Can you imagine being able to see it in the Contarelli Chapel in Rome, Italy, today? Have any of you seen it there?
After the class where we discussed this artist and his painting, I went to my job and shared the story with my co-worker, Sandy. Several days after my graduation from Washburn, I got a call from her. She and her husband wanted to stop by my apartment. When they came in the door, she presented me with this framed painting. She had remembered!
