Published on Tuesday, March 27, 2007
in the Miami Herald

Colleges cater to adult schedules

Working people find more options as schools offer classes in the evening, on Saturdays and online.

Jaime Picanol has spent a lifetime with the Florida Highway Patrol, rising through the ranks to be a district commander. The 46-year-old has 24 years in, with one year to retirement.

''I'm way too young to spend all my time golfing or fishing,'' says Picanol. ``I'd get so bored.''

So for the past five years, Picanol has done what many adults do as early retirements, mergers, buyouts and consolidations leave many searching for a second act in the workplace: He takes classes at night and on weekends as he moves toward a new career.

Picanol calls it ''the transition.'' After spending a lifetime observing human behavior as a trooper, he hopes to teach psychology to college students and open a private therapy practice. He's working toward a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Carlos Albizu University in Doral, which caters to non-traditional students.

Most of his classes start at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m.

''I was able to go off to school after work,'' said Picanol, who works at Troop E in Miami.