About a year ago I signed up for a class on Web Design at the University of Cincinnati. I was thinking of having a commercial site for the business we have been in for around seven years. I was going to go under what they called the Senior Audit Program where if you were a senior citizen, you could attend class on a space available basis at no cost…tuition free sounded good. I signed up and when I went in the first night the Professor said “This course was not open to seniors, it was a highly technical course and he didn’t have time to hold someone’s hand…Really ?? I was thinking that my Lawyers will be high fiving each others chests when they get a hold of this.
I took a deep breath and told him “God Bless you Son…you have a nice day” now when I tell someone that I really mean something else…usually the person I am talking to somehow knows that.
Now normally throughout my life…..this would time to light one up…..not a chance in hell.
The next day I called the College and spoke with the woman I had been dealing with…I told her what happened. She really seemed to get upset and made me repeat it a couple of times. She said she was going to elevate this and I really didn’t think I would hear anything. About five minutes passed and I got a call from the Program Chair at the University. He started talking to me as if I was a teenager…….total control…I just listened. Then I told him “I have listened to you now you are going to listen to me. I said” I was denied access to one of your classes last night because of my age and to make it worse, it was done in front of the class and I was humiliated.” I know that sounds like “Lawsuit” but that’s not who I am, but a little bluff never hurts.
It seem to work because it got to the point he kept saying “What can I do to fix this. I will personally put you in any class we have on campus…I will walk you there myself” Unbelievable way to treat people.
Anyway about two hours later I get a two page letter from the Professor that started out “I would like to apologize for my behavior” Well I believe the arrogant Pr*ck was not sorry…he just got caught by someone that would fight back. It gets better.
I had met the VA Counselor at the University…he seemed interested that I was back in school and got hold of this episode and what took place. He called me and said that the VA had a new version of an older program that he thought I was eligible for. He said he would have someone fill out the paperwork and submit it……I was called and went to a two hour interview and was accepted. They would pay for me to go to school full time…tuition, books, everything.
So now I go to Cincinnati State majoring in Web Design and Video Production. That’s where I been the last year or so…..less a little time for two eye operations that was a part of the disability. I have T shirts older than some of my fellow students but I seem to fit in. They asked me to be in a movie they were making filmed at a century old Country Club in Cincinnati. It was actually a lot of fun and I sit back sometime an think…You never know where life will take you so enjoy the ride.
Finally, I have a 3.8 GPA…who knew?
