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Reentering College: A Nontraditional Student's Story About His First Course

Abstract This is a narrative case study that analyzes Carl's experience as a nontraditional student who enrolls in a transition course after a 15-year hiatus from college. Specifically, the study aims at understanding the perceived impact that the course had on shaping the personal narrative of learning in college of a reentry student. Using a three-dimensional inquiry metaphor as an analytical framework, Carl's experience of reentering college is reconstructed in terms of interaction, continuity, and situational dimensions. Through the interplay of the three dimensions, an understanding is gained of Carl's mixed emotions in the choice of his first course, how his absence from school influenced his present academic performance, and how personal and academic transformation were evident as he reconstructed his identity. The findings suggest that Carl's experience in the course cemented his decision to complete his degree, and a transition course can be a resource to address nontraditional students’ needs.