Over the last ten years that I’ve held these assorted professional certifications, I’ve also had to collect continuing education hours with which to renew them. Now, that’s not really hard to do. A two-day manufacturer’s class and tour filled my requirements for one renewal cycle. And the professional organizations give quickie classes to fill in an hour or two.

But I’d like to pick up two more licenses, just to keep myself well-rounded. I’ve taken the correspondence course for one of them twice, and passed it both times, as well as taking a refresher course, but life kept getting in the way of taking the actual State test. So by the time I can schedule the test, most of the math required to pass it has flown out of my head. And correspondence courses are not easy to do when you have things pulling you in fifteen different directions.

So I decided to take a class in person. Fortunately, the local community college holds these classes, and of course, they’re at night. It’s something us working stiffs are usually more interested in than the regular nine-to-five college students, after all.

I found myself back down at a school with checkbook in hand for the first time in almost twenty years. It was a little weird, but being a community college, I’m not all that out of the ordinary at my age. I may feel strange, but I probably don’t stick out too much.

The first day in class, I found myself wondering when the desks got that small? There’s no room for anything; you can’t negotiate your notes, your book, and your calculator at the same time. I guess years of working at an actual desk have spoiled me. And I’m not sure when the calculator buttons got so tiny. Considering it’s the same one I had when I was twenty, I think that might just be me. But it still works, and I’m brushing the dust off myself too.

The students are all the same, if a little older. You’ve got your teacher’s pet wannabes; I’ve pegged at least two of them in this class so far. These are the career students, who aren’t going to do anything with this class in particular, but seem to have to tell everyone how much they know about everything, related or not.

You’ve got the boys in the back of the class; there are quite a few in this one. There are a few of us who sit near the front so we can either hear or pay attention over the boys in the back of the class.

There are some people who really shouldn’t have passed High School, and aren’t going to do well at all.

There are a couple of ringers; I’m quite sure I’m one of them. Besides having taken the class before, I’m an actual working operator, if in a slightly different designation. So are a lot of those boys in the back, I suspect. Some of them might look dumb, but they’re probably ringers too. I’m trying not to be obnoxious about it, but I already see two people looking to me for help, and one of the career students has started arguing with me. Whatever, chick, I don’t care how you solve the problem.

I’ve made a friend already, besides the one kid I already knew. I’m not here to make friends, but this might be a pool of potential employees and it’s always good to know the other locals in your field.

I have a whole different attitude about college this go-around. The last time, I was really into cramming as much into my head as possible. I was probably that career student, although I don’t remember boinging my hand in the air every time a teach asked a question. This time, though, I really couldn’t give a shit what grade I get in this class. Grade point average is irrelevant; I already have a degree that I don’t use. I’m here specifically to brush up my math so I can pass this test. And I don’t think I’ll have any problem doing that; the pace of this class seems to be geared more towards the flunkies, and I’m going to find myself rather bored most of the time. But it makes me sit down and practice equations, and that’s what I need. Fortunately, that’s the teacher’s goal too. And since the State test comes before the class final, I don’t have to worry about that too much either. The one that counts will already be behind me; the final will solely exist so I can count these continuing education credits toward my next license renewal.

I think I’ll keep on with it though. There’s another license that I could get next fall, and I could take a class to get a higher license of the variety that I use in the spring. It wold be good for my resume, and for my flexibility should my contract fall through. And that’s what got me into this career in the first place; collecting licenses before I needed them.

I’m still going to grumble about having to go on Tuesday nights, but it’s good for me. Keeps my brain somewhat active.