Kirsten Stevens is a mother of two and a grandmother of five.
She's also a senior in college.
More than 30 years after she quit college after two years to get married and have kids, the Forty Fort resident is just months away from receiving her bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Gerontology, with hopes of becoming a college admissions counselor after graduating from Penn State Worthington Scranton in May.
"Graduating is something I never thought I'd be able to do," Ms. Stevens, 52, said.
Adult learners and non-traditional students looking to break into new careers or overcome a competitive job market make up a significant amount of students on local college campuses.
Over the past five years, adult learners have made up about 30 percent of students on campus, Christopher Lewis, an adult education coordinator at Penn State Worthington Scranton campus, said.
There were 486 adult learners out of the 1,598 students on campus during the 2011-12 school year, with the largest portion of those students ranging in age from 24-29, however Penn State has students as old as 65, he said.
Many have lost their jobs or are looking to advance in a new career. The availability of classes online, at night and during the day allow for flexibility.
"They want something better for themselves. They want something better for their families," Mr. Lewis said.
At the University of Scranton, there were 181 undergraduate adult learners out of 4,041 on campus and 1,857 graduate students in 2012.
Lackawanna College associate business professor Joseph Gilroy, a former adult learner, said he has noticed an increase in adult learners in his classroom over the past five years.
There has also been an influx of military veterans going back to school, both Mr. Lewis and Mr. Gilroy said.
Mr. Gilroy quit college when he was 20 years old to join the Army, getting married and starting a family before going back to get his degree - a feat that took him 11 years to accomplish.
He said adult and non-traditional students are his favorites - their focus, real-life experiences, dedication and commitment to success are traits he admires.
Adult learners face challenges in the classroom, like keeping up with the technology their younger counterparts use so easily.
Ms. Stevens learned not only how to proficiently work a computer, but to submit a paper in an online drop box. She even created a Facebook account to keep in contact with her classmates, with whom she fit right in.
"The experience of the college student has been tremendous," she said. "The kids, as I call them, have accepted me as just another college student."
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter