I encourage you to consider turning this challenge on its head. Too often the issue is less age and more perceived energy level. What can you do to let your inner energy, confidence and youthfulness shine through? Good luck.

I am a definable ‘displaced homemaker’ in that I am over 50, overweight, completely gray, with older children, younger children, a “traditional” husband and a future need to market myself into the workforce. I have waited long years to go back to school and become, at long last, what I wanted to be ‘when I grew up.’

Although I am in graduate school now, I have the distinct feeling that my age and frumpiness are negatively influencing scholarship committees – lessening the privilege of continuing my education and obtaining a great job: “After reviewing your application, it is apparent that you are an exemplary student committed to your graduate studies and furthering your education so that you may continue to positively impact your professional field and the individuals and communities that will benefit from your service, however, . . .”

Being non-scholarship material is much the same as being unemployable: they don’t want me no matter how nicely they glamorize the execution. And it is the scholarship which will actually propel me into the job market after the accomplishment of the degree.

I am beginning to think that being who I am, with a declining physical presence, does not afford me a competitive edge at this lumbering age . Too many Xer’s and Yer’s out there ahead of me looking fresh and offering ferocity to declining organizations who want a makeover. And although I would never apologize for the “richness” in my life, never-the-less, I’ll need more than value to get through school and land that dream job.