I approached Pennstate last August with a lot of anxiety, interest, and enthusiasm. I had no idea what school would be like and I knew I would have to learn to adapt to my new student life. The rapid adaptation I would need would be like a scientist in a laboratory trying to discover a cure for the new strain of the flu virus that would throw the world into needless panic. I had left academia a little over 5 years ago. years and I had forgotten much more than I remembered; I was about to discover the need for rapid adaptation. I would soon be immersed in a world where everything would be new. I would be like a fish emerging from the primordial mud with fresh legs about to take its first breath with freshly evolved lungs. I am considered a “non-traditional” student. According to Leslie Lang, adult studies and programs coordinator here at Pennstate, there are 4,000 nontraditional students enrolled at Pennstate. Leslie Lang says: “The criteria applies to any student over the age of 24 enrolling for the first time, or under the age of 24 with multiple roles: they are married, they are parents, or they have military experience. I fit the mold I came out of high school for 5 years and am a veteran of the US Army. With the economy still in a weak position and many blue-collar jobs leaving the United States, many older people are taking the time to go back to school. People are starting to realize the importance of education and credentials to stay competitive in the world of work. Jobs are now scarce and even graduates are unable to secure employment in the field in which they studied. Now, to get a foot in the door, an applicant must have something that... middle of paper ... think nontraditional students are not a big part of the melting pot of college life, However, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, nontraditional students now make up 73% of the U.S. student population. Students now need to become more financially independent by obtaining part-time employment, which gives them a role distinct from that of just a standard student. They acquire the rapid adaptation that other adult students possess. Each year, as more people return to continue their education after a hiatus, we will have more and more experienced, diverse, and skilled people at Pennstate. We should all take the initiative and approach school with the idea of ​​adapting quickly, because not only does school require it, but life itself requires that you be willing to adapt and evolve as the world around you..