As I walked into my first college class, I wondered who would be sitting to my right or left. I remember fearing that everyone would stare at me because I was an “older”student. I soon realized that while many teens were in the class, I was not the only student who had waited a number of years before seeking a college education. There were actually quite a few returning adult students. In that moment, it dawned on me that my fears were unfounded. This experience showed me that the age demographics in the typical community college classroom are surprisingly diverse in the majority of America. Both students and teachers need to be aware of this reality. In order to make the classroom an effective learning environment, it is vital