A student of life continues to learn

COEUR d'ALENE - Students like Julie Houston are redefining what it means to be a college student.

According to the 64-year-old, age should never be a factor in deciding whether to continue education.

"I believe in lifelong learning," Houston said. "I don't think you're ever too old to go back to school."

Houston has been slowly chipping away at a bachelor's degree over the last 20 years, and she is within reach of graduation from Lewis-Clark State College. She will earn her a degree in humanities on May 6.

The fact that many people her age are nearing retirement does not seem to bother her. She explains that this "norm" does not apply to her, because, as she states, "I haven't even had to deal with an empty nest yet."

Unlike many of her contemporaries, she is still actively parenting the younger three of her six children.

Her educational journey has been filled with amazing experiences. She and her husband, Craig, adopted three babies from India. After hearing from another couple how wonderful the adoption experience had been; they felt this was a more important calling.

After one year of classes at North Idaho College, Houston took a break from school to help Craig care for the children. Craig is a physically disabled Vietnam War veteran and had difficulty caring for the babies alone.

In 1969, in the midst of the Vietnam War, Craig had been carrying the radio for his commander when his company stumbled into an ambush. He was shot in the spine, and was instantly paralyzed from the waist down, at the young age of 22. He has been in a wheelchair ever since.

Between school studies, six children and eight grandchildren keeps Houston busy. She also sculpts, paints, cares for her horses, and sings with the Northwest Sacred Music Chorale. Yet, she somehow finds a way to balance her busy life and has no regrets about pursuing an education.

"I want to keep taking classes for the sheer enjoyment of it," Houston said. "I am just getting started."

Houston's passion for helping others does not end with the adoption of her three younger children. Her ultimate goal is to work at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Institute. She wants to help students succeed.

The Coeur d'Alene Tribal Institute is an outreach center in Plummer that offers pre-college and college-level classes. Houston, a self-proclaimed "math-o-phobe" struggled through three semesters of math at the Institute.

She had taken beginning math classes at North Idaho College, but was too afraid to go on. Dr. Chris Meyer, who is the director of the Institute, and happens to be a friend of Houston's, suggested that she complete the rest of her math requirements there since it is located close to her home in Plummer. This is exactly what Houston did. She was so inspired by the people, particularly her instructor, Randy Patterson, who gave her daily help and encouragement, that she made it her goal to work at the Institute.

After discovering that she needed a four-year degree to do so, she made the decision to enroll at LCSC-CDA. Regarding the value of her education, Houston says, "If I don't get a job at the Institute, I'll volunteer."

Craig Houston's part-time work at a Christian ministry, along with his disability pay from the U.S. Army, supports the family. Julie is determined to land her dream job, "whether they pay me or not."

Katie Pennington is a communications intern for Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene.