Alongside many of us in the classroom, there are a few students who have returned to a school or university setting after working straight out of high school or serving in the armed forces. These students, or “adult-learners,” are twenty-four years of age or older who make their way back into the world of academia. Adult learners contribute largely to a younger, college-aged community as their many vast life experiences are beneficial not only to the person that they are, but to their less experienced peers as well. I have had one or two adult learners in most of my classes here at Behrend, and from personal experience, I can say that I have gained so much knowledge and acquired solid life advice from my fellow classmates.

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Ramzi Zinnekah, a senior Communication major, currently attends Behrend as an adult learner. Being from Beirut, Lebanon and growing up the United Arab Emirates, Zinnekah has had quite the interesting path that had lead to his current situation in life. After spending his high school years at a boarding school in Salzburg, Austria, Zinnekah attended Boston University where he pursued an International Business degree. However, as we all know too well, finances got in the way of his academic progression. He got a job after halting his education in the field of telecommunication marketing long distance call services “back when that was a thing.” After working, spending time in the Navy amongst many other ventures, Zinnekah “decided to take advantage of my GI Bill and pick up a degree in communications at Behrend.” He never would have seen himself, as a young person, where he is now, but to him, “that's what makes life interesting, never quite know what's around the next corner.”

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Zinnekah started his own language services business that provides to local, state, federal, and military services. When asked about why he chose to go back to school at Penn State, he explained how Penn State has a good reputation as an overall institution, it was located conveniently for his personal preferences, and Zinnekah said, “I wanted to finally finish what I started over 20 years ago. I hate loose ends.” Being in a professional or work environment for any amount of time will certainly bring out much growth and learning. As an adult learner in the classroom, Zinnekah believes that he is “able to relate and put what I learn into practice immediately if it relates to what I currently do. What I have to offer students who take the time to ask is the unvarnished truth of what it's like in the real world and what to expect.”

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Zinnekah, like many other adult learners, faces more demands than the average twenty year-old. Having a business and family and other priorities is hard and Zinnekah finds his greatest struggle when “balancing the demands of being a full time student in addition to full time work and my personal life.” As far as what he believes could be beneficial for adult learners, night classes would be an immense help when scheduling around the many other parts of life. But, at the end of the day, Ramzi Zinnekah will finish with his degree this fall with “the satisfaction of knowing that I finish everything I start even if it takes over 20 years.”