Leslie Dalton-Ramage enrolled at SRJC for a new experience at the age of 57. As a young mom with two children in the 1980s, college was never a viable option for her, but she wanted a chance to meet new people and be a part of the student community.
“I never took college in my 20s, but I know for a fact I would not have learned as much as I did in the classes that are available today,” Dalton-Ramage said.
Initially studying acting and improv, she switched to screen printing. This led to an associate degree with four different majors. She graduated from SRJC in 2023 with honors.
“I didn’t even plan on getting an associate in the beginning, and then I thought, ‘Well, why not? That might open me up for better employment in the future,’” Dalton-Ramage said. She transferred to Sonoma State University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in art. Due to the current presidential administration’s educational cuts affecting the arts, Dalton-Ramage is just 13 units short of achieving her goal and is unsure about the future.
In the meantime she started a full-time job as a court clerk with the City of Santa Rosa. She cited the critical-thinking skills learned from her information literacy class at SRJC as giving her the courage to speak up and land this job.
Retiring at 62 and playing golf is a misnomer
According to the Public Policy Institute of California’s (PPIC) January 2025 report, by 2040, 22% of Californians will be 6 5 or older. Some will remain in the workforce for various reasons, including not being ready to retire and financial constraints.
According to the The Hechinger Report, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip in college enrollment, and California college administrators are now encouraging adult learners to enroll and continue their education.
Adult learning is on the rise again at SRJC following the pandemic slump, and reinvention has become the mother of necessity. As modern life continues to throw curve balls, SRJC offers opportunities to help older students plan their return to study.
Starting again with the Re-Engagement Program
The Re-engagement Program supports adult students with career direction, scholarships, academic programs, college transfer applications and internship opportunities.
SRJC Counselor Ankur Kumar works with students interested in the program, which focuses on adults over 25. However, he deals with a good number of inquiries from those aged 40 years and older.
“A common theme for students with many years of life experience is that attending community college is a great way to learn something new, explore or build upon their interests, and be connected in the community via classmates, professors, staff and events through campus,” he said.
Some of these students already have degrees or certificates and are looking to pivot their career, or return to finish a learning goal that life’s responsibilities interrupted. Martyn Lees, 43, came to SRJC after abandoning his career in private security. He is now in his second semester studying journalism.
“I have to remind myself that I’m a mature student. You know, that I’m older than all these kids, at a different point in life. I think that the college is very accommodating to that,” Lees said.
Lees, who has a master’s degree in international security studies, served in the British Army, worked in the Middle East and provided executive protection for oil company executives. He earned his degree as part of that career track. “I learned more about the background to the conflicts that I’ve been involved in, and that turned me off it. So I ended up moving to California to be a hippie in the woods,” he said.
“I started writing poetry. Then I started writing more long-form stuff. I started a blog that I should write more of, really,” Lees said. “I have some things I want to say, and journalism isn’t really about what you want to say, but you can certainly shine your journalistic spotlight on the issues that you think need to be looked at.”
The North Bay Bohemian recently published Lee’s article, “Big Dig,” which he wrote in his advanced journalism class. In true reporter fashion, he stumbled upon a story that seemed local and realized there was a bigger story about corporate consolidation affecting family business underneath.
Going back to school is cool with lifelong learning
Some adult learners seek to continue academic tracks with SRJC, while others are looking for fun ways to stay stimulated and meet new friends.
Kelly Mayes coordinates SRJC’s Lifelong Learning program, offering noncredit classes for adults on campus, at community partner sites and on Zoom.
“[The] feedback is amazing. Students share [that] they find classes thoughtprovoking and informative. They appreciate having the choice of attending both in-person or online,” Mayes said.
Lifelong Learning offers more than 100 classes including art, writing, fitness, watercolor painting, drawing, mindfulness, tai chi, conversational Spanish, voice lessons for beginners, genealogy and music.
“Classes are free and students are welcome to join any open class at any point during the semester,” Mayes said.
SRJC not only helps adult learners achieve their individual education goals; in some cases students learn something more about themselves.
Rikki Wickman embarked on her creative journey in 2023 after a false start at SRJC.
Prior to enrolling, she completed a bachelor’s in professional communication, served in the Army Reserve and became a civilian personal trainer.
“I wanted to take an anatomy class — they have a great anatomy program. I didn’t qualify for it, and I needed to take some pre-reqs. So I took the biology class, begrudgingly,” she said.
After a semester of biology, Wickman was laid off from her corporate marketing job and grew frustrated with the prospect of four more semesters of anatomy and physiology.
Seeking a new direction, she enrolled in a screenwriting class. It was there that instructor Eric Adams gave Wickman a new perspective.
“I wanted to write a script. I wrote a satire about the 2016 election, which is now kind of sad, because I wrote it before Trump got re-elected,” Wickman said. “I told Eric I have a hard time fitting in with corporate [work]. And he so nonchalantly said, ‘Well, you’re creative. Of course.’”
This validation opened up her perspective on job hunting, and at 38 she is starting a fitness business and learning to enjoy being a student. “I am in it to learn,” she said.
Kumar has seen a trend involving adult students who already have a track record of success when they enroll at SRJC. Their personal and professional experiences make them resilient, focused and committed. Kumar says they bring a lot to the table.
“Helping and encouraging their success as students who bring a breadth of life experiences to the classroom is very meaningful for me. I just encourage anyone thinking about taking a class, or pursuing a degree or certificate, to go for it,” he said. “Talk to us and we can help make you a plan.”
Looking back on her time at SRJC, Dalton-Ramage said her classes here were much more difficult than at SSU. SRJC did an excellent job preparing her for success, plus she enjoyed the experience.
“It was just really nice to meet another generation of people and to be in a community that was so helpful. They had a lot of events that gave students a lot more time to be people and not necessarily students,” she said.
