Ann Reichling, now 72, graduated from high school in 1970 during a period of significant unrest on college campuses.
“I was on track to go to college, but when Kent State happened, I said ‘I’m not going’,” she recalls, referring to the Ohio university where four students were killed and nine injured after National Guards shot into a crowd of people protesting the war in Vietnam.
Coming from a family of college graduates (her parents met at Stanford), Ann spent much of her life as the only person in her household without a degree. Life took her in various directions, from being a housewife living off the grid for 15 years without electricity and running water to divorcing and working part-time as a secretary and eventually as a credit analyst for Canon USA.
Despite her professional success, Ann never abandoned her passion for art, which had been put on hold due to her career. “When I retired, I decided to go to school and get a four-year degree because it was a lifelong goal,” she explains. Ann chose Irvine Valley College (IVC) as her starting point, with the aim of transferring to a four-year institution. Although she had accumulated a few college credits over the years, she had to begin anew.
At IVC, Ann found herself immersed in a stimulating academic environment. “I really liked being a student; the classes were fascinating,” she says. She says the supportive atmosphere at IVC helped ease her concerns about being an older student. “I liked the size of the campus—it was not intimidating but impressive and professional. It wasn’t a podunk school, but it was also welcoming,” she notes.
One of Ann’s significant challenges was algebra, a subject she had not tackled since high school. “I think the teacher thought I would be a failure,” she laughs, “but I took the textbook and hand-copied every single chapter. I ended up getting an A.” Her persistence and dedication were evident in every class she took. In Writing II, she faced another hurdle when tasked with writing a research paper. “I had never learned how to do a research paper in high school,” she admits. Yet, with guidance from Professor Burt and her own resourcefulness (along with some feedback from fellow students), she mastered the skill.
Ann's educational journey was further enriched by her interactions with diverse classmates and energetic professors like Prof. Rossiter, who teaches cultural geography and leads camping trips. “He would really get the conversations going, he was full of energy and got people interested—he made geography class exciting,” she recalls.
Ann’s journey at IVC led to multiple associate degrees, graduating magna cum laude. All along, art classes provided a creative outlet amidst her academic challenges. Ann also took classes at the Irvine Fine Arts Center and volunteered as a docent at the Hilbert Museum, where she further honed her skills. Eventually, Ann transferred to University of California, Irvine (UCI), where she earned a bachelor's degree in studio art at the age of 71.
Although Ann’s own educational journey was unconventional, throughout her life as a single mother she encouraged her daughter to pursue higher education. Her daughter graduated from the University of Southern California with double majors in English and the Classics and later earned a master’s degree in library and information sciences. Ann’s advice to her daughter underscores her belief in following one's interests.
“Study what interests you because when you get in the real world, you won’t have time to pursue those interests,” she says. “Most of my peers got degrees in their 20s, but if they wanted to go back and just take some courses, I’d tell them it’s a good thing because it keeps your mind active. If you’re someone who is starting from scratch, don’t give up; the classes are interesting.”
At 72, Ann remains active, enjoying long bicycle rides, making art and cherishing her time spent at IVC and UCI. “I’m totally glad I did it,” she affirms. Her story is a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to pursue one’s dreams, even if it means starting from scratch.