Never too old for college life

By Rachel Johnson

It sounded so good that the hair on Everett Miller’s neck rose straight up. The high school band was practicing after school. Music always had been part of his life, but this was different. He had never heard music that sounded so beautiful. Miller was playing a pickup game of basketball at the time, but he began thinking more about music than basketball. He approached the director and asked how to join. From that point, he participated in his church choir, continued learning piano and joined other music groups throughout his life, including the Senior Sounds, a touring vocal group. However, he was never able to study music at the college level because he spent most of his life serving in the army in Korea, raising a family, and working in engineering.

But once he retired, he decided it was time to go back to school. Miller, 71, is studying church music at Anderson University.

“One day, I went over to the School of Adult Learning and next thing I knew, I had a student loan and everything,” he says. “I’m really happy about it. I just wish I was younger and had more money.”

Miller’s studies at AU began when a friend from church suggested he join AU’s Symphonic Choir. Since enrolling at AU in fall 2003, he’s taken many classes—voice is his favorite—and joined the casts of two AU musical productions, The Street Singer and Guys and Dolls.

“The most prevalent thing that I’ve learned from my interaction with Everett is that it’s never too late to try something new,” says Joel Westman, a senior studying music education who has been in the same productions and classes as Miller. “He once told me that after he retired, he effectively got cabin fever and had to get out and do something. And he’d always wanted to study music, so he did.”

When asked for advice, Miller tells students that if they really love something to work hard at it, then they will truly appreciate when they succeed. John Huntoon, AU instructor of music, says he admires Miller’s work ethic and attitude. “He works really hard at whatever it is he does,” he explains. “You don’t notice the fact that he’s not a traditional student; other students treat him as one of their own.”

Miller may be retired, but he has yet to slow down. He plans to practice more once he builds a music studio in the loft of his barn. Writing music is also a goal. Besides playing music, he restores old cars, including a 1949 Chevy tow truck with its original hand crank. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Sally, and his three children and five grandchildren. In fact, he’s only taking one class this semester because he’s been so busy at home. It may take some time to finish his degree, but he says it’s worthwhile.

“I want to better myself,” he said. “If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be doing something else.”