Just like Roger Dangerfield going Back to School.

Over 50 and back in college, preparing for a new career

A month before turning 60, Helen White received her master’s degree in sport management at George Washington University and now teaches basketball and pickleball and organizes recreational programs and tournaments for older adults throughout the Washington area.

“I wanted to change the stereotype of older adults by getting them to move and enjoy the power of play,” White said. “The degree opened opportunities for me to do that.”

In a way, it was a back-to-her-roots time for White, who played basketball and tennis competitively throughout her high school and college years, obtaining her first degree in physical education and recreation. But it was also a bet on her future after leaving AARP, where she had been a manager of information services. White, who lives in Arlington, Va., spent about $24,000 as a part-time student for four years to prepare for her new life.

For many, a retirement of baby-sitting grandchildren and golfing is passe. Older people today approach work as a pillar of a retirement lifestyle, planning ahead and adding skills even before leaving their current jobs.