Making mature students feel comfortable was the focus of a recent “coffee chat” at the Oshawa campus.
The Mature Student Coffee Chat brought students from different ages, programs and backgrounds together over coffee, snacks and activities on Sept. 17. It was designed to help them connect with others navigating college later in life.
The afternoon began with students introducing themselves, giving everyone a chance to break the ice. Some talked about the adjustment of being back in school and others joked about adjusting to a college environment where their classmates can be decades younger, with some as young as 17.
Janis Li, student life coordinator at Durham College, said the event is intended to help students feel that they are part of the college community.
“The purpose behind the work is really to build a connected community,” she said.
For Kevin Millington, a Developmental Services Worker student, being surrounded by other mature students at the coffee chat made the experience feel more comfortable.
“To be with people relatively in my age bracket, and to be able to interact in such a nice, positive way, was so refreshing,” he said, “and I’m already looking forward to the next one.”
Li said returning to school can come with practical hurdles, particularly when it comes to technology and navigating college systems. Students may need help accessing DC Connect, registering through MyDC or connecting to campus Wi-Fi, but resources are available to help them.
But the afternoon was not only about challenges for the roughly 20 people in attendance.
Students helped themselves to coffee and snacks, chatted with one another and took part in a “Keep It or Leave It” game. They held up signs to vote on different activities, with drive-in movies and board games receiving unanimous “Keep It!” votes.
Li said creating that kind of environment is an important part of the event.
“I just want it to be an inclusive space where everyone can find their voice, make a new friend, maybe just have some familiar faces at DC,” she said.
For students who may feel overwhelmed by returning to education after years away, those connections can make the transition feel a little less unfamiliar.
“I was really happy to see that there were other people in my age bracket who were also going through the same challenges,” said Millington.
“So I just say, just give it a try. If you have the opportunity, just try it.”
By the end of the afternoon, the coffee, conversations and laughter had given students more than a break from their usual routines. They left having met people who understood what it was like to start a new chapter at college.