Factors that influence adult success at community college

Community College Enterprise, The, Spring 2005 by Dayton, Elizabeth

Finally, one student lost her job and found that she could not find work as a physical therapy assistant; she returned to school to gain skills for work in a more available field.

Finances and family

Many students discussed the need for greater financial stability, and a community college instructor reported that, indeed, she found students to be "more savvy about money" than in the past. Students asked how much money they could make with increased education and often set their goals based on potential earnings gains. One student explained:

I don't want to work in retail my whole life....I don't necessarily want to be rich, successful, but I don't want to struggle....I see the struggle that my Mom goes through and you know, she's a great person, but I don't want to struggle like she has. And I want to be fulfilled. I don't want to waste my life.

The desire for financial stability was closely tied to a desire for family stability. Eight students listed family as their main source of motivation for returning to school. These students were younger, ranging from age 20 to 30, and averaging 24.9 years. These were also of the least educated of the interview pool; only one had more than a high school education.

One student said her parents had been her main source of encouragement. Seven referred to their children as their inspiration: "I just knew that I had to do something for myself and my family." The message came through repeatedly:

* I am a single mom of two schoolage children. I want to be able to give my children the best life possible. Nowadays, the more education I have the better my pay will be.

* I've got two kids. I was like, "Man, I need to do something for them!"...[I need] a good paying job that's going to be able to support me and my kids.

* I was working and I just didn't like what I was doing....Plus at the time I had two younger children, and I just recently had my third child last semester. So I wanted to get in a career that I know will support my family.

Finding fulfilling work

Many students report a mix of influences on their return to school. The desire for more fulfilling work came through clearly in six interviews. One student came back, "because I had something I wanted to do." Another student described her community college education as a series of small steps towards higher-level work. As she reached each new credential, she endeavored towards the next: "You set your short-term goals, and you accomplish them, and you want to set more and more."

Two students had come to community college decades before to increase their earning potential and now again found themselves building new work opportunities. Community college had led one student into twenty years of managing her own catering company (through a hotel/restaurant management certificate), but she now needs additional skills to gain fulfilling work. The other student had enjoyed a two-decade career in welding following his last community college certificate. Having found community college a successful avenue into welding, he was again taking night classes to move into a new career.