May 18, 2007 :: No. 210

When Joyce Jensen of La Habra Heights participates in Cal State Fullerton’s commencement program this weekend, wearing the same robes that her son wore more than 10 years ago, she will have achieved her goal of graduating from a university before she turned 70.

She had about one year to spare. Jensen is the recipient of this year’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Award, presented to an “elder” graduating student.

“I’m almost 69, and my goal was to receive my bachelor’s degree before I turned 70,” she said. Going through a divorce after 32 years of marriage was another motivating factor.

“I was 62 years old and, I lost both my husband and my job since we owned a business together,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘What am I going to do?’ We had discussed joining the Peace Corps when we retired, and I had always wanted to finish my college degree, so I decided to apply to the Peace Corps and Cal State Fullerton at the same time.”

Jensen was concerned that the Peace Corps would not accept her because she wore leg braces but, as it turned out, that was no problem. In fact, what Jensen found more challenging was the algebra class she was taking that summer.

The Peace Corps decided to send Jensen to Russia to help small-business owners learn to manage their businesses. Then 9/11 hit. Russia decided to stop granting visas, and the opportunity evaporated.

“Since I wasn’t going to Russia, I decided to continue with my education,” she said. “I had started by applying to the Peace Corps and Cal State Fullerton at the same time, and now I would continue with my other dream of earning my degree and began taking classes in fall 2002.”

This wasn’t Jensen’s first university experience. When she was 18, she attended a small liberal arts college, Alverno College in Milwaukee. But finances were tight, and she could only afford to attend for two years. She married and started raising children. In her forties, she considered returning to college but she and her then-husband began their business, so her dream was put off again.

The divorce, she admits, is what really motivated her to pursue her lifelong goal.

“I’ll tell you,” she said with a laugh, “nothing is better than algebra when you’re going through a divorce. It’s so all-encompassing that you can’t think of anything else.”

She decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies because it is so thought-provoking and wide-ranging.

“Liberal studies provides students with a broad base to build upon,” she said. “You learn how governments are started, how art evolves, how social thought moves through time. … It covers so much and you really begin to understand how societies change and move forward.”

Among her favorite classes was “Inquiry and Composition in Liberal Studies” with faculty member Carleen Ibrahim because she not only learned how to write, but how to use such research tools as the library, computer and Blackboard.

“Classical Mythology” with Jane Hipolito, emeritus professor of English, comparative literature and linguistics, was another favorite that caused Jensen to “use both sides of my brain — I swear, your head would hurt when you came out of that class — but it’s still one of my favorites.”

In fact, Jensen found her entire experience at Cal State Fullerton to be wonderful.

“I found out I’m a whole lot smarter than I thought,” she said. “I earned all As except for one B,” she said. “When I was younger, I was a C student. I think I learned more here, and I know I was more motivated.

“It was great to participate in discussions and all the other students were just wonderful,” she said. “Cal State Fullerton has a great diversity of students of all ages.”

She also participated in Osher Lifelong Learning Institute programs, such as watercolor painting classes and a senior fitness class.

It is Jensen’s hope that once she has her degree, she will be able to participate in more OLLI programs. And she is very pleased to receive the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Award.

As for her plans following graduation:
“I just want to read a book without holding a pencil in my hand.”

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