HOMEMAKER STUDIES TO BECOME SOCIAL WORKER

Sue Bundy of Jackson has held the job description of homemaker and baby sitter for nearly two decades. Bundy began a course of study at Southeast Missouri State University in January to get a bachelor's degree in social work.

More specifically, she said, "I want to be an advocate for juveniles in distress."

She thinks that today's society wants to treat kids like they're adults, when, no matter how you slice it, they're not.

The adolescent phase in life is by far the toughest, Bundy said. Just the pressures of changing from child to adult are enough, adding the extra pressures of school, sports make life pretty complicated.

"With my second child graduating from JHS this past May, it became a quest to find my own path," she said. "I needed my own identity. I knew I always wanted to do social work, even before I had kids."

Bundy makes it clear she wouldn't trade the time she's had with her children at home, for the world.

"I began to see the reality of it all when I played with the idea of getting a job outside the home," Bundy said.

For starters, she didn't have a college degree. After being out of the labor force for a while, she knew returning to the world of employment would not offer a whole lot of selection or compensation for her efforts.

With the idea in mind of wanting to help her family, Bundy decided to bite the bullet and return to school.

A resourceful person by nature and a transplant from New York, she slid into country living with ease.

However, it's important to realize that the support of her husband, Bruce, made quite a difference in the transition from homemaker to student. His encouragement enabled her to carry out her plans.

Going to college is not an easy undertaking, financially, for any family. Added to that, the mountains of paperwork can be overwhelming, sometimes intimidating.

Bundy said it wasn't too bad. She filled out her paperwork, got some books out of the library to study for an admissions test, received placement from the test results and went to first step where she registered for classes. Then she applied for financial aid, got notice about her loan and before she knew it, it was time for class.

"After being out of school for 23 years, the first day was nerve racking," she said. "Here you have kids fresh out of high school, a few older people and me. I was the oldest one in my intermediate algebra class."

She said she was eager for "it to be over," but "in hindsight, after all the apprehension, the class was worthwhile" and gave her discipline and perspective.

Facing something she feared and getting through it, enabled her to tackle other things.

The best class during the semester was culture and diversity.

"It was challenging and intellectually stimulating," Bundy said.

"The most significant, good change that's occurred since going back to school is in my own self-esteem," she said. The pressures of deadlines, mixed with the load of still having the responsibility of caring for a family, takes the fun out of school.

"I've been forced to prioritize; otherwise, it becomes too much of a drain on your energy," she said.

Finishing the semester with a 4.0 average, Bundy is tackling summer school. Time is a big issue. Taking the class for eight weeks as opposed to 16 really is a help to reach your goal as fast as possible.