With my wife in a teachers’ enrichment session at my old alma mater, I was free to walk around the school for 4 hours. What I found is that you probably shouldn’t go back to your old school.

The buildings on the outside were the same or similar. Inside it had gotten a more modern look. I didn’t know where anything was anymore and it was almost as if the buildings had a fake facade over them. I certainly don’t expect colleges to stay the same for the 20 years following my attendance, but the drastic changes were almost too much. All my memories seemed to vanish the minute I opened the doors to what was the history department – turned nursing school.

I’m pretty sure the traditional classroom is few and far between. No more are the desks and podium. Now its some type of boardroom table to spur discussion. I’m certain I probably would not do well in college if I were to go back. I’m too far removed from learning and not up to the 21st century new ways of learning. In my day laptops being brought to class would be unheard of. Now it seems to be the norm.

At times I felt like an uneasy visitor. Opening up unlocked doors to university buildings and dorms. Who was minding the store? “No, wait I’m an alumnus!” I would shout out should anyone question my presence. And no one did. Not once. Did I blend in? Or were visitors on a Saturday to an otherwise deserted campus the norm? I checked and it wasn’t fall break. It’s just that Lipscomb is a Monday – Friday campus only with everyone leaving on the weekend….or else sleeping in.

And so here I was, wishing I had not gone back. It’s good ever so often. But not today. I found out some things about the university that grieves me that I will not go into.

So friends, when it is time to go back to your old college or high school, don’t go. You can’t relive it. Those days are past. Just think back with fond memories and view old photos of them. Just don’t go back expecting to relive those days.