By HollyThorne - 23/04/2016 00:35 - Croatia

Today, I'm a 27-year-old back-to-school university student. Everyone hates me because I'm actually interested in participating in my classes and getting good grades, instead of partying, cheating in exams, and generally not giving a crap. Apparently I make them look bad. FML
I agree, your life sucks 21 207
You deserved it 2 353

HollyThorne tells us more.

HollyThorne 2

Hi, this is OP! I'm not doing the whole partying and not giving a crap part because I've already done that when I was their age so now that I'm older I'm more focused on the important stuff like getting a degree. Still, I underdtand where they are coming from, I was also like them when I was 19. Also, I am working as a freelancer on the Internet 30+hr/week so I'm way too busy and tired to get wild! The reason I think the other students don't like me (there are exceptions, of course) is because I really found myself in the field I'm studying now and like to participate in class discussions with questions and my opinions. Also, since I'm older I'm not that intimidated with my professors so I have a more friendly (but still respectful) relationship with them and they like me for my curiosity and interest. Maybe the class think that I'm a smartass or something. But I am super grateful for your support especially now when I'm tired and frustrated with it all and I will keep going for my own well being :)

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Top comments

UnidentifiedFun 37

Hey they're just jealous, keep doing your thing. University doesn't last forever and you sound like you're going places.

200 9
denden_mushi 11

What school is this? Maybe it's because I went to college, but seeing older people in school is normal. As long as you remain driven and don't let them bother you, you'll do great. Hope your time at school works out and you get an awesome job right after.

152 0

Comments

Mathalamus 24

you do make them look bad. because they *are* bad.

42 3
last_kings84 19

Don't you mind those haters OP and just keep up the good work.

3 0
loctran 4

Here's a Kobe Bryant saying to learn. Friends hang sometimes while banners hang forever. That's true for college too. Those accomplishments will hang with you' forever. Those college friends will eventually come and go. If you get one friend that hangs with you forever, you'd be very lucky.

5 7
9a_z1 11

If your 'true uni experience' is ruined by one solitary person who doesn't want to join in maybe there's better things to be doing with your time, because life after uni is going to destroy you.

10 0
neuronerd 28

I went back to school at 25, and I didn't have these problems. The first semester may be rough, but are there honor societies or fraternities you could join? I joined a coed honors fraternity, and I made a lot of friends who took their education seriously.

2 7
neuronerd 28

Also, I saw in your reply comment that you work almost full time. I worked in a lab up to 40 hrs a week in addition to being in school full time, and still managed to graduate with honors. You may think you don't have time to join an organization, but you probably do, and will be happier.

2 11
heyLaddieHey 18

My instinct is that you're vastly overestimating how much they care...

10 1
lunax_fml 14

Not saying this is the case for you, but when I was in college many of the older students weren't liked not because they "didn't party" but because they hogged up all the class discussion and were overly opinionated/loud to the point nobody else was able to talk. They were usually too oblivious or maybe they just didnt care to notice that even the professors were usually annoyed as well. The older students that were helpful and constructive (and didn't tie every single lessons to their children) were liked.

25 2
smoothies14 32

Exactly! In many of my classes the older students fit right in, while also being able to share life experiences that we hadn't gotten to yet. However, I will never forget my freshman biology class. It was not a class that invited much discussion or needed many questions, but an older guy (maybe in his 40s) could not go a single class without at least one question or comment and it was really freaking annoying. Yes, I was 18, but I was also a nerd, the only other person to ever say anything in the class, much less stay awake with our well-meaning but monotone teacher at 8 A.M. OP, congrats on finding a passion, but don't neglect the social aspect of school just because you're older and have already had a type of social university experience. There are driven teenagers out there who make great friends. Don't go it alone.

6 1
brisbanegirl 21

This way my experience as well. I don't remember anyone not liking older students because they didn't party

5 0
kingdomgirl94 29

I had an older woman in my second year learning psych class, and she made literally everything about her kids and went off on tangents. She didn't seem like she did the course work at all or any of the readings but she always had something to say about whatever the prof was saying. He'd start talking about a general learning theory and she'd go on about how untrue it was because of anecdote X Y or Z of her kids. It drove me and everyone else insane.

5 0
lunax_fml 14

#80 ugh that sounds so familiar! An older women in one of my psych class was not only just like that but she also seemed to think the class was her personal therapy sessions. Every other lecture she would start bawling about her father abandonment issues or some other deep rooted thing

2 0
StoriesOfMyLife_ 9

One exactly what you mean, OP. Had the exact same experience when I went back for another degree. I hated group project and frequently told the teacher our just do it by myself because it was impossible to coordinate their party lives and find someone serious.

0 4
73012211 17

I've been in that spot. And what's worse, I was actually the same age/only a couple years older than my classmates. It sucks, but you're not there to make friends. If you do make friends, it will be the people who don't care that you actually care :)

2 1
SergioB11 14

Just to sat OP YDI. I'm not trying to be mean , I mean this in a good way . Their jealous because you actually put effort into school . I hope you get a degree for your dream job

1 4