My co-worker, Rob, and I had lunch today. The Department Head annoucement that he was leaving to take a job in Canada was the main topic. Rob was of the opinion that DH was naive enough to believe that everything would be the same after he left. We know better. After much discussion, we decided that most of the post-docs would do OK and find positions in other labs. The research assistants would find jobs with other researchers, maybe a few would break into industry. The undergraduate student workers could find jobs, they’re cheap labor and the univeristy subsisdized their pay. He and I, though, were fucked.
Rob is in a worse position than I. He’s from Australia and if he loses his job, he will have 28 days to leave the country. A little less than a month to pack up his things, travel across the globe and land back home without a job or unemployment benefits. I am really worried for him.
Rob and I get along because we are in the same boat: researchers without bachelor’s degrees. We’re both animal people and we have done well in the medical field because we have strong backs and even stronger stomachs. Rob has been at this much longer than I have. He’s the closest I have had to a mentor. When he decides to go home (or is sent back) I will miss him. 
Getting a job without a degree is a pain. Mouse_Spouse is very supportive. He says that we will work out whatever happens; he also makes three times as much as I do. I’m sure that Mouse_Spouse would be OK with me going to school full time to get that damned piece of paper, but I feel akward. I have been on my own since I was 16, experience has taught me that everything comes with a price. Let the spouse pay the bills while I go to school freaks me out. It makes me feel vulnerable.
I’m down because this time last year, a friend and fellow animal-person/uneducated researcher killed himself - a gunshot to the head in his car in the university parking lot. Today apolice officer was shot at the corner outside the same parking lot. A coincidence, but a chilling one.
Off to find chocolate and cat to pet . . .
Thank you!
seriously, some of the best students I’ve worked with (say, because they hadn’t done algebra in so long and needed tutored in math to pass and graduate) were even over 45. Another thing, being a student in class, I’m only 20, and I love it when I’m in class with older, more experienced people (read:anyone over 25). They contribute a whole lot more, and usually have some idea of what it’s like in the real world, not just some random theory about it from someone who just graduated high school. Another thing I’ve learned in college is that the Stepford Students must be ignored. Both my gf and I were people who were picked on in high school and lower grades. I can’t claim this for her experience, but it’s different for me now. I still get picked on some in college, and I despise the Stepfords, but I notice when there are two or three in a class with me, chances are they won’t make it until midterm. This is wonderful because the serious students are left and the others are gone (not that all Stepford students are not serious, just in my experience). Of course, this is also a lot easier on me because I am in a small program (English Ed 7-12 - my college graduates about 1-2 a year in it) and I’m in upper level classes now, so the gen-eds are out of the way and it’s mostly people with similar majors.