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Adult Student Profile

Laura E. RiosLaura E. Rios
Full-time Administrative Secretary

I’m a full-time administrative secretary in the Physics, Astronomy and Materials Science Department, and a “non-traditional” student at Missouri State. My varied professional background includes five years in the accounting industry, in marketing & communications as well as in conference planning /coordination of continuing professional education programs. My career goal is centered on returning to work in the field of communications area – ideally for a top-notch nonprofit organization. I’m (re)married, and my husband and I have four grown children who live in the Chicago area. We enjoy music, comedy and camping.

I am attending school at this point in my life because I guess I’m a ‘late-bloomer’. My education has been a long, drawn out process. I didn’t have the opportunity to attend college right out of high school, so I began taking classes at an Illinois community college when I was 27, and my daughter was in kindergarten. I completed an Associate’s in business in 1984. I always wanted to keep going, but a divorce slowed me down for a few years. I remarried in 2001, and decided in the fall of 2003 - in my late 40’s – that it was time to get back to work on a Bachelor’s degree so I could improve my career options. At the time I was working as a conference coordinator and traveled a great deal, so I started taking distance learning courses through Kansas State University. Just over a year ago I had the opportunity to take a secretarial position here, so I became a transfer student here too.

My first goal is to complete my undergraduate work in general business studies. Then, if I’m still able to get myself around campus (using a cane or a walker, if necessary!) I’d like to pursue an MBA. I consider myself a work in progress. Learning should never stop.

One major obstacle I had to work through was when I started at K-State; I learned that the College Board keeps CLEP exam scores for 20 years. I had taken an entire battery of CLEP exams 21 years earlier that comprised 18 hours of my AA gen. ed. credit. Losing that was a definite blow, but I returned to school anyway with sophomore standing. Transferring to Missouri State turned out to be a great move for me, as it is for many returning adults. My AA was accepted as a complete unit that satisfied my general course requirements. Suddenly, with my transfer here, I was a junior. As Abraham Lincoln said, “I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.” I still have a major hurdle ahead, which is COBA’s college algebra requirement. I haven’t taken math (other than accounting or economics) since high school geometry in 1972! It may take me awhile just to pass a placement test for MTH 135.

I’ve only just started to make use of some of the services Missouri State has to offer. I’d love to see a series of non-credit workshops or help sessions designed to help returning adult students prepare for college mathematics, though.

From my perspective, age is a case of mind over matter – and if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter! But, the first few times a new class meets, I think the traditional students aren’t quite sure what to make of me. It doesn’t take long before they see I’m just one of them and we’re all dealing with many of the same issues, working toward a common goal. I really enjoy having the opportunity to work with classmates on group projects.

I think the very first advisor I spoke to was with Adult Student Services. I was referred to COBA pretty quickly though, due to the special requirements of the business college and my need to speak to a number of department heads for transfer credit evaluations. The advisor in Adult Student Services Office was helpful, got me pointed in the right direction, and saved me time. I also like the newsletter features because they make adult students aware of special events and topics of interest.

I would advise the non-traditional students to find a support network. Both my real family and my “family” here in Physics, Astronomy and Materials Science are very supportive and understanding. This helps SO much. Beyond that, just go for it. There is no obstacle that can’t be overcome if you’re determined enough.