Any Age is the Technology Age
Preparing for a Second Career, She Chose
Computers
By ANN HARMON
When Georgina Simanca graduated from ECPI College of Technology at
age 57, she had spent two years with classmates who thought of her as a
grandmom. She looks back on those school days with fondness and
justifiable pride.
Simanca grew up in New York City and worked there until the mid-1980s,
when her insurance company employer moved to Richmond. She moved with
the firm, as did many others. “They’ve stayed, too—we all like
Richmond,” she said.
After one year here, though, Simanca was laid off, and took a job in
food services. “I was getting along well,” she recalled. “I had a house,
a car, and what I needed. What I lacked and wanted was an education.
“In New York, I was not a good student. I was in and out of school
during my early years.”
As Simanca observed the working world around her, she realized that
anyone who wants to survive must know how to use a computer, so she
determined to join the technology age. She tried several avenues, but
found no course offering her the hands-on learning she needed. “My goal
was to learn ALL there is to know about computers!” Her search finally
ended with ECPI.
The required entrance exam revealed Simanca’s weakness in algebra. She
was assigned a tutor, who fitted extra hours of instruction in with
Simanca’s schedule. The hours paid off. She qualified, and thus began
two years—non-stop for summers—of hard work.
The curriculum fulfilled her expectations. It required courses in
literature, basic English, and speech, which included practice in
decorum, interviewing and dressing for success. Mainly, though, she had
computer work—internet research, desktop publication, computer
information science and various widely used programs.
The work was intense. “We had one day off for Thanksgiving. We made up
snow days and July 4th. Christmas fell between terms, so we did have two
weeks then.”
Leaving her full-time job in late afternoons, she had a quick dinner
then slipped into class, always on time, at 6 p.m. Classes lasted until
10:30, four nights a week.
“That was the hardest part—the demand on my time,” Simanca said. The
best part? “Making the dean’s list!”
When she received her associate’s degree in applied science with a
concentration in business systems administration, her family members
from New York and Maryland joined her in Richmond to celebrate.
Simanca advises anyone of any age to go for more education. “With
maturity, a person becomes serious about learning,” she said. “It’s not
necessarily true that age makes you less capable of learning new
material. I was 57 when I was finally ready to give it my best.”
After work, and on days off, Simanca heads for her computer. “I go home
and get on it,” she said. “I won’t forget what I’ve learned.”
Simanca learned more than “all about computers.” The discipline of time
management and sorting out priorities gave her new structure. The
interaction with her instructors and with her classmates, only a few of
whom were in her age bracket, proved invaluable. She learned enough
about computer work so that she knows she is capable of handling
substantial responsibilities in an office.
Her food service job will continue until the right office job comes
along. When it does, Gina Simanca will slip smoothly—on time—in front of
some computer that is waiting for her.
Ann Harmon is an adjunct instructor in English at
VCU and UR. During her years of teaching in the Middle East, she wrote
for English-language newspapers.
