Working Wounded Blog: Props to Night Schoolers

Oct. 3, 2007 — -- Recently, I attended my sister's graduation for medical office management and coding. It was a nine-month program that she attended five nights a week, for three hours a night.

That bears repeating: three hours a night after a full day of work. Pardon me for a proud sibling moment, but my sister not only didn't miss a class, but she aced the program with a 4.0 grade point average. Go, Dee!

I understand the magnitude of this commitment precisely, because I didn't attend an evening MBA program. No, I went to one of those cushy executive programs that meet on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. (Which is not to say that I didn't break a sweat — it was hard juggling work and school.) But, one alternating day a week isn't in the same league as five nights a week. Not even close.

The most I've ever done is one night a week, when I taught at an evening MBA program. I've done it four times. And every time, I marvel at the sacrifices that people will make to try to better themselves. Sacrifices with family, friends and, mostly, sleep.

Back to my sister's graduation. I was also blown away by the pride in the eyes of the students. My sister never went to college. So, her identity as a student goes all the way back to high school. And her memories aren't great. My brother was the Ivy League graduate, and my sister was the one who barely hung on.

She just spent the entire evening beaming. A classmate commented that Dee was the hardest worker she'd ever seen. She took voluminous notes that the entire class quickly became addicted to. That's not even mentioning the hand surgery, selling and moving out of her house and leaving a long-term relationship. Again, all with a 4.0, and perfect attendance.

Remarkably, my sister was only one of many amazing stories.

One guy took a bus every night that still left him a one-mile walk to school. My dad always used to talk about how he'd walk to school each day in snow — this guy actually did it.

Another student struggled with English, so she translated all of her notes, quizzes and tests from English to Portuguese, then back to English.

There were stories of people who juggled multiple jobs, kept plates spinning with day care, and who overcame medical emergencies.