Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?-* " ' ?" ~ - f ' -' $. . W&. I * ,< Helen Geraghty and her da Older USC Responsibility, matu By KATHY HEBERGER and ANDREA SWEET Staff Writers Adult students are as old as their professors in many cases, but can also be as young at heart as the average 18-year-old. These older students have lived life in the "real world' have decided to go back to the classroom to make their lives better. There are approximately 2,200-2,250 adult students on campus, i student classification describes students who are at least 25 years The oldest student registered is an 80-year-old woman. Their reasons for being here are different ? some come to get 1 ? . ?- - ?i.?II.. ?J JODS, some wani lO DC CUlluiauy ciuiuicu, anu jumt cuiut; 1U1 uit sure of intellectual stimulation. But they all are carrying a different load than the typical 1 22-year-old student They often have house payments, kids and a w of experiences to carry along with their degree requirements. "Adults have been out in the real world, and they know that educ is important," said David Hunter, director of Continuing Educa "They are using education to round out their lives. College has a w; defining choices." Kim Smoak, 28, returned to school after five years away from fc and lectures. After graduating with a degree from USC in hotel, res ant and tourism, she realized the degree didn't fit her lifestyle. "I got a degree that looked and sounded good, but I had to pu many hours into it. I couldn't. .. have a family," said Smoak, who 1 three-year-old daughter. Now Smoak is back at USC majoring in elementary education. "Ii lot different being an adult student because you are more intereste studying than in partying, playing or even trying to find a husband,' said. "The first time I was here, I played around and I didn't know w! Qfi ir1c>rit <zhn I 1.1- l-W tPoe By JACK DUNN Staff Writer Most people in college hav sume most English majors ha> the terminally lovesick, to wrii But very few college stud their innermost feelings which % of good poetry. I mean if s poetry and feels it worthy of too personal to come out in surfaces after the poet's det some of the greatest 20th cen ven't been discovered yet. John Patrick Murphy is p wrong. Murphy, a 28-year-old together a collection of his "Poems and Songs and Tho publishing deal. It has already bookstores. "In this world of black and i read," Murphy said This along with other crypi mk personality of this Columbia p the world or oiack ana white i of pnnt. The confining, unci work, resumes, job applicatic cles. Murphy transcends all t] of this collection. ? Writing poetry is an uphill in one's life and mind. For m seems to be directly related to phy would seem to meet this c know what cold and hi feels like 'cause I've been ther Brought up in a military fan years of Catholic school have Biaa ft :>-' '?HBi^^R?:. .'-< ;. MMIWIfWMTOSl ,?,.^, .~ : ughters Allison (left) and Melissa do homework together. students prove rity: two tough courses that ar wanted to do. Now, I know," she said. "I don't believe most students are mature enough to go to college for an education. Most play around until they their junior year before they get serious about their futures, and then they have to worry about their GPAs and usually end up staying in college for ' and more years than is necessary." Dana Peeler, 28, said she realizes now she was not ready tor college \dult right after high school. She's in the Navy and is working towards her old. English degree through the ROTC program. "It means more to me now. I appreciate what's going on a lot more setter _____ plea"The first time I was here, I played around and I 8 to didn't know what I wanted to do. Now, I know." ealth ation Kim Smoak ition. ay of than I would have when I graduated from high school," Peeler said. >0^5 "Back then, I was more concerned with making a paycheck." itaur- feeler, like most adult students, lives on campus. 5he said sometimes she feels a little jealous of the close bonds she observes between younger t too students. "I hear them talking about parties and plays and all the things has a they've done together," she said. Barry Lee, 32, lives on campus and socializes with students both of his age and younger. "I've got a good sense of humor, but I feel I'm more is a serious than students who are 20-21 years old," he said, sd in Lee, a British exchange student, came to USC to complete his degree ' she in American studies. He started playing professional soccer when he was 16. After suffering a knee injury that ended his soccer career, he did time hat I in the Army, worked in the casino of a cruise ship, was a bartender and res knowledge, life in writings it succeeds desn flict in Murphy's life, and the anger is shown in his poetry. ?7~7 "77 ?? "I've always gotten resistance to what I've wanted e tried, and would as- to ^ ^ ?you make any money at that' southit attempted, along with em mindseC Murphy said. te poetry. As far as influences, Murphy cited T.S. Eliot and lents actually put forth gg Cummings which would attest to his informal, make up the better part straight.forward styie. omeone actually writes ?j get compared to a lot of poets, but I can't really publication, it s usually j*m directly influenced by them. What I write is one's lifetime and only my |ifc? Murphy tth. At least, 1 heoeve jn talking with someone whose mind is spread out itury poets probably ha- among the ether, a discussion can lead to some unexpected tangents. Murphy had something to say on roving this assumption several topics including Holderman, James Dickey I English major, has put (uSC's resident poet) and the lyrical content of rap own writings entitled, an(j thrash music - all of which could take up subseughts" through a local quent articles. been distributed to area Murphy's poems are easily accessible and easy to relate to, avoiding extremely complex metaphors white, I m going to be while dealing with themes of love (real or otherwise), sex, friendship, alienation and reincarnation. In other tic sayings make up the words, the basic concerns of humanity, not to mention oet From what I gather, college students. s the conservative world ?j want portray the amazing intellect and power teative world of paper- that each one of us has. I believe in a collective conins and newspaper arti- sciousness where each one of us has the knowledge his with the publication that each other needs. I'm trying to give the knowledge I have." battle against adversity Murphy is looking forward to his next collection, ost poets, their hardship "My life has settled down a bit, so I should have more their pood noetrv Miir- fimp to Hpvrttp to u/rifinp " ho said riterion. "Poems and Songs and Thoughts," by John Patrick inger and homelessness Murphy is available at G Leon's Bookstore on 631 e," Murphy said. Harden St., Volume One on 725 Saluda Ave., and The lily and experiencing 14 University Bookstore in the Russell House. The Harobviously added to con- binger Publication is priced at $6.95. mpt ?,^ j J ^ ~ ., i-+*^~> ' Greg Rickabaugh/The Gamecock j ^ ^^ _= ? ? 3 to be wiser e taught, learned in life did office work. When he decided to earn a degree, he sacrificed his steady income and ^ k:? ?ii r? ....J.j? .. -i n? wot iu miuw uiuc iui Muuymg iu pass me entrance exams necessary to enter a university in Britain. "Sometimes I get impatient," he said. "I want to get that degree and get into the workplace." Lee said there are pros and cons in waiting to start college. "Sometimes I find myself wishing I hadn't left school and had gone to college at age 18 or 19 as everybody else did. Then maybe now I'd be on my way to having a family and a house now," he said. "But then I think that my experiences have been beneficial to my out- ? look on life and have added to my studies." Helen Geraghty, who is in her early thirties, is married and has two , daughters, Melissa, 11, and Allison, 8. Geraghty is majoring in elementary education. There are times when my husband wants us to spend time together, and I can't because of homework or a paper being due," she said. Geraghty added that her family is very supportive of her return to school. She and her daughters spread their books all over the kitchen )\ table and flow and do homework together. Older students often face frustrations that students straight out of high 1 school do not. Geraghty said she faces problems when a child is ill. "I either have to reschedule my tests or pump the kid up with Tylenol ? and drag her to class with me if I can't miss any more days," she said. She said when she carried 16 hours one semester, she was irritable most of the time. Geraghty's advice to young people is to get an education before starting a family. "You can avoid that extra stress," she said. "But never feel that you can't go back ... learning is a life-long process. You're never too old to start" Ate hardships H f M ''-''A/,'"'y''' \ wvfrfiw* ?. -mmt - JMm riiimiinfi B&^HT j I MMMm - d . ^ >/' i>k r| aBBfe* , ;'^j>- jfe. -y^ :' ,.;::;V- :. ' Teddy Lepp/The Gamecock USC English major John Patrick Murphy landed a publishing deal for his Poems and Songs and Thoughts. We're not good because we're the oldest The Garnet & Black We're the oldest because we're good. The University of South Carolina Yearbook Since 1899, USC's Oldest Publication Call 777-3888