15, 79-year-old Mary Ann Smith will be among them. Smith, a lifelong resident of Martin, Tennessee, is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of lifelong learning. She has dedicated her life to her family, her community, and her faith, but she never stopped believing in the power of education.

* Schaeffer attended a community college in Michigan. * She was a town librarian and later a county librarian. * This experience provides her with valuable skills in public service, information organization, and customer service. **Detailed Text:**

Schofield’s collegiate journey began at Lansing Community College, a public institution nestled in the heart of Michigan.

“We would come down to visit them, and on one of those visits, we decided to go out for a drive with the kids to get them out of the house, and we looked around and thought, ‘This is a nice place.’ I thought it would be nice to be close to Mama, and we found a nice house to move to.” Schaefer has three sons – Daniel, Darren and Willie – and two daughters, Lori and Lisa. However, when she was 51, she became a widow. “I was working full-time and my youngest son, Willie, was 16,” she said. “Right after high school, he came here (to UT Martin). I said, ‘I want you to have the college experience.’

“So, I did a few more years (of college) and said, ‘I think I’m going to start doing part-time (classes).’ So, I was working full-time and doing classes part-time.” Schaefer would take a class or two at a time for several years before moving to Florida for 10 years, coming back to Kenton in Obion County in 2017. “Within a year or so, I started auditing classes,” she said. “I was at the age where I could do that for free. “When I was here doing the part-time stuff, there was a wonderful professor here named Stan Sieber, and he did the travel study program, and I did the travel study. I traveled all over the world. My youngest son lived in Japan for a while, so I even got to go to Japan.”

Schaefer traveled to several European countries through the UTM Travel Study program. He/She audited classes for two or three years before graduation. ## Detailed Text

Schaefer’s journey through Europe was a testament to the transformative power of education and travel. Through the UTM Travel Study program, Schaefer embarked on a journey that took him/her across the continent, immersing him/herself in the rich tapestry of European culture and history.

* Schaefer is a multi-talented individual with expertise in education, graphic design, and digital art. * He holds a degree from UT Martin and currently works at the University of Texas at San Antonio. * Schaefer’s career path demonstrates a strong commitment to education and a passion for creative expression.

“It wasn’t easy, when you come in here from June 3 until Aug. 9, five days a week, and then, you have other responsibilities for your other two days.” Schaefer is most interested in history and art; even after meeting the requirements for graduation in August, she is auditing a History of Pop Culture class this fall. Schaefer said that UT Martin has become a family tradition for her. Not only did her sons Daniel and Willie go to UT Martin, but she has four grandchildren who attended or are attending UTM as well. Her son Daniel’s children – Jessica, Daniel and Michael – went to UT Martin, and her son Darren’s son Dylan is currently attending UTM.

Taking college courses over the years has helped Schaefer stay mentally fit. Schaefer’s passion for learning is evident in his dedication to his studies. Schaefer’s dedication to his studies is evident in his consistent academic performance.

“It was a lot of fun.” This is a unique opportunity that many parents have, but it’s not always easy to navigate. The challenges of balancing work, family, and college life can be overwhelming. The author of the article, a mother of three, shares her experience of navigating these challenges. She describes the emotional rollercoaster of balancing work, family, and college life.

“I’ll pick out a topic, a theme, a subject, or an object. Then I’ll start to explore it in depth.”

This approach, Schaefer argues, is a powerful tool for learning and understanding. It allows individuals to delve into a subject matter that truly captures their interest, fostering a deeper engagement and a more profound understanding. This approach, he argues, is particularly effective in the process of learning and understanding complex topics.

He was so excited and he said, ‘I’m going to tell my mom and dad.’ He was so happy for me. He was so excited to hear that I graduated. It was a really nice moment.”

This is a short story about a woman who graduated from college.

Maybe I was afraid.

“Sometimes, it was hard and I would get down,” she said. “I never was going to give up; that thing never came to my mind. But, somebody cheering you on makes you want to take that one more step, then that one more step, then that one more step.” In “Tao Te Ching,” Lao Tzu says that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lin Schaefer said that her journey toward getting her college degree was a long one, but she completed that journey the same way she will walk the graduation stage Dec. 14 to receive that diploma: one step at a time.

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