鈥淚 had been in a four-month fog since my husband died that March. I was out seeing a friend, and driving back when I saw the sign.鈥�
At NCC, Sherrill met Jayleen Aleman, Adult Education Coordinator, and the two have been working together ever since.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like you came here on a mission, and you haven鈥檛 looked back. Anything that has tried to be in your way, you鈥檝e knocked it down,鈥� said Jayleen.
鈥淎ny problems I鈥檝e had so far, I鈥檝e been able to get help,鈥� said Sherrill. She started with some technical difficulties, like getting used to the student platforms and technology during orientation, but she was able to work through it. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e had lots of trips to the advisor鈥檚 office. I haven鈥檛 met anybody here I haven鈥檛 appreciated 鈥� from signing up my first day, to the kid who says 鈥榟i鈥� to me at the security window when I walk in; everyone has been terrific.鈥�
This is Sherrill鈥檚 return to college after taking classes about 30 years ago. 鈥淪omewhere along the line in the 90s, I was working and going to school at the same time. I wanted to be an engineer, I changed it to a paraprofessional, then to business. Then I got laid off, had a family, and college got put aside. And after that 4-month fog in March 2022, I thought 鈥榳hat about me鈥�? It鈥檚 time to finish what I started. My husband would be so proud.鈥�
Her two kids are grown, and she鈥檚 now thinking about all the things she wants to learn.聽
鈥淚 have a lot I want to do and see and know. I鈥檝e learned how to be more courageous, and less afraid to go out and get what I want and need. Which a lot of older people don鈥檛 have, or don鈥檛 have the option.鈥�
Sherrill chose the general education associate degree pathway at NCC. 鈥淭he benefit of general education is that there鈥檚 a lot I want to try, and see what I鈥檓 good at.鈥�
She used her American Sign Language class as an example, 鈥淚鈥檒l never be a sign language interpreter, but now when I see signing on TV; I can understand a portion of it. I鈥檝e learned a lot.鈥�
So far, she鈥檚 signed up for a part-time class schedule each semester. 鈥淭his is my third year, and I could have taken more classes in a semester, but I wanted to slow it down, and it was easier financially. And I got some scholarships.鈥�
She鈥檚 taken classes in fall, spring, and summer 鈥� including an intensive 2-week summer class in public speaking. 鈥淚 belong to Grange Services for the State of New Hampshire, and every year I have to give a report. After the public speaking class, I went in and I was confident, and I did the report in front of over 100 people. My public speaking experience was something that I didn鈥檛 realize I needed, but it was the best benefit I ever got.鈥�
Sherrill鈥檚 also participated in the campus literary magazine, 鈥淲indows,鈥� and wrote a poem for Grange that ran in the magazine.
When asked about what it鈥檚 like to return to college later in life, she said 鈥淚 go into a classroom, and I am the oldest person in the room. So, when a professor is talking about history, they talk about whether anyone remembers the 1970s 鈥� none of them were born yet.鈥�
However, she鈥檚 built a rapport with classmates. 鈥淲orking in environmental science and earth science class, you work with a lab partner, and that was a good start for me. The interaction was harder in the beginning, but it鈥檚 a 100% better now.鈥�
The average student age at NCC is 23, although students of all ages enroll in classes and training pathways.
鈥淚 was in the cafeteria today and looking at all the people in the room, and everybody鈥檚 different. And different is good. They鈥檙e all coming from a different place, and they鈥檙e all here for different reasons. MY reason for being here is to finish what I started because I鈥檓 not a quitter.鈥�
While she鈥檚 set to graduate in May 2024 with her general studies associate degree, Sherrill鈥檚 not done with school. 鈥淚 have been excited to learn all that I鈥檝e learned, and each professor I had as a student gave me something I didn鈥檛 know I needed.鈥�
Next, she wants to take photography for fun. 鈥淚鈥檝e already taken graphic design and it felt so good and energizing. The professor, Professor (Rick) Freed, encouraged me to go on and now I want to take photography. There鈥檚 a lot I鈥檓 interested in. Do I want to stop? No.鈥�
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