They seem to agree that once they explain their presence, the other students seem curious and interested in them rather than nervous about their presence. Nontraditional students may also have to struggle to share the student experience that seems to come naturally to younger, traditional students. They're all younger than me. They're all smarter than me. Perhaps even more than freshmen just starting out at UNC, the prospect of starting classes at such a large institution which has the reputation of being only for the best students is intimidating to a student coming back later in life.
Nontraditional students are back in school with clear goals and reasons for being there.
They are often unusually active and thoughtful participants in class. They can be a source not only of extra insights and information, but also of enthusiasm for a class, and they ask nothing more than teachers use their particular type of diversity to the class's advantage. When I started school, I was 20, so I wasn't all that much older than the other students. I was actually working, so I had to wear a suit to class. I guess that made me look older.