When UCFV instructor Janet Gibson glanced casually at the class list for her Intro to Computers class this fall, she was struck by an interesting statistic.

There were students born in every decade from the 1920s through the 1980s enrolled in the College and Career Preparation computing class on the Chilliwack campus.

“This really illustrates how we serve such a broad range of students at UCFV in general and in College and Career Prep in particular,” Gibson says. “We have senior citizens who are brand new to computers signing up to learn the basics, people in transition who need to upgrade their skills, and young people just starting out who need the computer skills for their course work or job training.”

They all gather together once a week in a computer lab on the Chilliwack campus to learn about basic keyboarding, word processing, and other skills such as e-mailing and using the internet.

Lucien, in his late 70s, is one of the eldest students in the class.

“I never knew too much about computers or got to go to school much in my life. I left home at the age of 14. I’m really enjoying learning more and trying something new.”

Rae Ann is in her 30s and hopes to enrol in the Applied Business Technology program at UCFV, but had to upgrade her skills first.

“My kids are older, and it’s time for me to find a career that makes me happy,” she reports.

Tammi is also in her 30s and hopes to take the UCFV Nursing program. “I was completely computer illiterate and I didn’t think that was a good way to start my studies,” she says. “The new skills I’m gaining here are really helping in my other courses.”

Miles was born in the 1970s and wants to pursue a science degree at UCFV. “Having the computer skills will put me on a better path in my studies.”

Anne, 73, decided that her late husband’s computer shouldn’t just gather dust in a corner. “I decided to make proper use of it.”

Michelle, 21, is the youngster of the course.

“I’ve experienced working for minimum wage for two years and know that I need a better job. I want to apply for a pharmacist course and need to get my high school equivalent marks up. This course is wonderful. I’ve had a computer at home since I was a teenager, but I was never comfortable with it before.”