Teaching is challenging and teaching college is often a mixed bag. Sometimes my class feels more like a cafeteria, where students come and go, __41__in the middle of my lectures. Mostly these students have entered college right out of high school. College seems to them like __42__a continuation of high school, __43__ the sense of newness that often drives curiosity and achievement.
But there is a category of students that gives everyone reasons for __44__.They are the so called “nontraditional students” :those who, for one reason or __45__, didn't go to college when they were 18.Some years back in my teaching, while calling out names from the name list on the first day,I noticed a gray haired woman of about 70.She was wandering in the doorway, __46__ her new books like a schoolgirl.
“I'm not on the ,” she volunteered. “But I was __47__if I could sit in for the first class, to see what marine (海洋) biology is about.” This woman's eagerness __48__me, so I invited her to have a seat. I began the class with questions to a (n) __49__of how much knowledge they were bringing to the course. As I questioned them about the difference between fishes and seagoing mammals, most of my new students remained _50__.But Natalie, the older woman, was on the edge of her seat, __51__answers.At the end of the class, she came up to me and apologized for being the “extra” student. She said,“Will you __52__ me another chance?” __53__ at losing her, I acted quickly to remove her __54__.“I'll see you next class,”I said.
Natalie turned out to be a vital and __55__student.She commuted 50 miles each day to get to school, often in the severe winter, and never missed a class.__56_this, she was enthusiastic about helping my younger students. Apparently these older students have the __57__over them. It lies in the broadth and depth of their path of life. After having __58__ numerous personal and professional barriers, they have an expansive world view. __59__ a return to school may, at first, be frightening for them, they tend to make it because they are __60__ great trouble to put their studies into an already full life.