THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9605310209
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Janelle La Bouve
LENGTH: 68 lines
Time is at a premium for an adult who returns to school in midlife.
``You can't beg, borrow or steal time,'' said Carolyn Shepard. ``You have to be very efficient.''
Shepard, a student at the Chesapeake campus of Tidewater Community College, was asked to speak during the school's recent commencement exercises. Her topic was education.
``Most returning students want to use the knowledge they have so painfully gained,'' she said. ``They have to be viable in the work force. The longer it takes to get an education, the less viable they are because age discrimination is alive and well.''
Shepard, who declined to reveal her age, worked as a secretary and paralegal while her husband pursued a military career. Moving from one duty station to another didn't permit more than one career in the family, she said.
Now it's her turn for career preparation, and she's not wasting any time.
``I was relatively scared that I wouldn't do well and was rather surprised when I did,'' said Shepard, who plans to earn a master's degree at Old Dominion University before entering the teaching profession.
While she was taking classes at TCC, Shepard tutored a lot of other students who were having difficulties with math or science.
``She was an outstanding student,'' said Roger Fuller, who was faculty adviser this past year for the Alpha Zeta Lambda chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. ``Most of our honor society students work in the tutorial center. She took the lead and did well. She was one of the first to volunteer to help.''
Full name: Carolyn A. Shepard
Hometown: Shreveport, La.
Fond childhood memories: ``I'm Creole by birth. We have a rich heritage of cultural celebration such as the Mardi Gras and what we are most noted for - food, such as gumbo and jambalaya. In Louisiana, there is a small-town atmosphere generally. Family still comes first, and the idea that blood is thicker than water is still alive and well there. When I was growing up, if adults didn't want us to know what they were saying, they would lapse into a French dialect. My dad did that until I translated that my Christmas present would be a red wagon.''
Spouse: Wayne
Children: Katherine and Matthew
Hobbies: ``Canvas oil painting, reading, music and crafts of all sorts. If it can be done by hand, I've done it. I managed a craft store for a number of years.''
Last book read: ``The Chamber'' by John Grisham
What's your favorite game? Uno
Describe yourself as a color: Blue
If you could be any animal, what would it be? ``A gorilla. It's closest to man.''
What irritates you the most? ``Lying.''
Favorite type of music: Classical jazz
Favorite movie: ``The Firm'' by John Grisham
Can't resist: Shopping
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``I'd be more open to change.''
Favorite TV program: ``Murder, She Wrote''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Ruby Tuesday
Favorite way to spend a day: At the Living Museum
What would you choose for a last meal? ``Chocolate. Sweets because that's the one thing we're not allowed to have. Every diet in the world says we can't have sweets.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN by CNB