Willing to Learn

One

Being an older college student wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, I found out the hard way. I had thought I would get those looks or even questions about why I decided to go to school so late in my life. But, there were two things that stopped those questions and looks. One, I didn't look my age, at all. Maybe a couple of people could guess how old I was but I preferred to call them lucky. And, two, going to college much later in life wasn't as taboo as it was some thirty years ago. It stopped making moms cool for some time now.

But, for me, it signaled the start of my mid-life crisis... which was also kickstarted with an impromptu divorce after so many years together. While going through a divorce was painful, emotionally and financially, once I stopped and looked at the bigger picture, it was for the best. Half of my life, he hindered me but now that he was gone, I realized I could do whatever I wanted to do. One of the first things I did was get another tattoo. The other? Enroll in college to go after my sports management degree.

I could've enrolled online, and I really wanted to at first. But something poked at the back of my brain. I had always wanted to physically attend college and now, nothing was stopping me from doing so. I was gonna be neck high in student loans anyway: might as well do the whole experience.

I had a change of heart as I sat in my third classroom of the day, waiting for the professor to show up. How I wanted to be lounging around, half-naked in my living room with a tub of ice cream and a cherry Coke! I already had two assignments due at the end of the week as well as a shit-ton of reading. I hoped the professor didn't show up and class would be canceled because the sooner I could start on my work, the better.

My inner complaining and grumbling were interrupted when who I assumed was the professor strolled in and I could do nothing but stare at him. Even though I was sitting down, I could tell that he was much taller than me, one of my guilty pleasures. I couldn't really tell his body type but that was never important to me in the first place. It was his face that mesmerized me. As he looked at us, he smiled widely and I had never seen anything more beautiful.

I dug through my purse for the schedule I printed out. Last class of the day, interpersonal communications: professor Grant Williams. "Running a bit late today. Sorry about that." Coupled with his smile, that smooth and deep voice made my toes automatically curl. This was gonna be my favorite class, by far.

Professor Williams went into the syllabus, explaining exactly what interpersonal communication was. I was glad for that because I had no clue but it was really to the point. Interpersonal communication was basically how to interact with people with body language and tone. The class would more or less go over how important it was in the fields we were hopefully going in. I had a feeling that the majority were business majors.

Professor Williams stopped lecturing and went up to a girl in my row: another thing that I found out to be a myth in college were desks. All three of my classes were in small rooms with just long tables and chairs to accommodate.

He simply looked at the girl, who gave him a weird look. "What's your name?" he asked bluntly. She hesitated for a moment, not sure if she should answer.

"Sabrina?"

"Sabrina, how old are you?" again, his tone was to the point if not a bit rude. I didn't blame Sabrina for her eye roll and scoff.

"None of your business!" she said and the rest of us snickered. Professor Williams just gave her a plain look and then moved on. I was surprised when he stopped in front of me and I wanted to melt. His eyes were a gorgeous hazel and I found myself stuck looking at them. His smile didn't help matters so when he stuck his hand out, I looked at it for a moment.

"I know you'd rather be at home than here. I'm sorry about that. I'm Professor Grant Williams." The sincerity reached his eyes and before I could stop myself, I shook his hand.