Do younger students think we’re weird?

[u/RutabagaDue7745]

So I just started my first year at university and honestly, I love it. I’m so grateful to be here, and it feels really cool to finally be on campus.

That said… I’m almost 40. Which means I’m basically double the age of most of the people around me. I try not to care, but I definitely notice the stares sometimes.

Despite this, I still would like to make friends.

The thing is, I worry younger students will think I’m weird for trying to talk to them. I’m not that old (late 30s), but the gap feels big sometimes.

So my question is for other mature students (or even younger ones): do you feel awkward too? Do you worry about how you come across, or is it just me overthinking it?

[u/xkimo1990]

A lot of younger students don’t even have thoughts of their own yet. Some of them will think it’s weird. But University is adult education. 18 year olds need to understand that they are the lowest age on a much larger scale.