After seven years of undergraduate and medical school, most students probably would swear off schooling completely. But Dr. Harvey Ouzts never was content with his science-based education, and so, at the age of 61, he is pursuing an English degree.

Ouzts attended UT-Chattanooga for his bachelor’s degree in biology before going to the Medical College of Georgia. He then opened a cardiology practice in Athens and kept it up for 30 years until retiring in 2006.

But instead of moving to the beach like so many retirees, Ouzts immediately began researching a return to school in order to continue an education he believes was undercut by its lack of humanities.

“When I went into practice and started real life, I realized I was culturally illiterate,” he said. “I’ve dreamed about (going back) since then.”

Unlike most people who return to college after retirement, Ouzts was not interested in taking an occasional class. He wanted to complete an entire undergraduate degree and was referred to Roxanne Eberle, undergraduate coordinator of the University English Department.

Ouzts began his English degree in the fall with Eberle’s class on British Literature after 1700. Although thrilled about his long-awaited return to the classroom, Ouzts was terrified of the other students’ reactions.

“I was worried I would be treated as my children treated me when they were 15,” he said.

At first, Ouzts felt his worst fear was becoming a reality. And then a discussion group e-mail changed the dynamic of the class.

Before the second test of the semester, students began communicating via the listserv about putting together a group study session. Ben Katz, a sophomore from Macon, sent out an e-mail saying he only would come to the session if Ouzts went too.

“I thought he was making fun of me,” said Ouzts. Nevertheless, he decided to respond with a light-humored e-mail of his own, saying he couldn’t make the session

but he studied at his house every morning at 4 and Katz and anyone else from the class were welcome to join him.

Although Katz declined such an early meeting, “When I met Ben (in person), he was as genuine as I could ask for,” said Ouzts.

The week before the final, two other students from the class, Chris Flippo, a sophomore from Rossville, and Chris Liakos, a junior from Lawrenceville, took Ouzts up on his study session offer and met at his house at 4 a.m. for British literature and “really delicious” cappuccino, said Liakos.

Since then, “I seem to be accepted,” said Ouzts, “(which) is the opposite of what I anticipated. I told

Dr. Eberle that coming to the course was like getting up for Christmas every morning.”

According to Katz, Ouzts affected the class’s perspective on the material and life. “He had an impact on how we looked at certain novels, especially older characters and issues that dealt with age and growth,” said Katz.

“People would be quiet when he was talking,” said Dan Delgado, a sophomore from Athens. “(We developed a) hunger for what he had to say.”

The morning before the final, Ouzts sent out one more e-mail to the listserv. The last sentence said, “I believe in beauty and we have certainly had exposure to some.”

In response, his classmates created a Facebook group called “I Believe in Beauty: A Tribute to Harvey.”

“He became more of a peer,” said Lauren Baggett, a sophomore from Lilburn. “He became one of us.”

Ouzts is one of 57 undergraduates between the ages of 50 and 61 currently enrolled in the University and said he expects the numbers to grow as the baby boomers retire.

The most important part of his return isn’t the degree but the desire to study, learn and research.

“I want to answer my own questions,” said Ouzts. “I want to study human behavior and have always felt I could study (it) through a discipline that was beautiful,” such as English literature. But, “I’m just using English as the front door. Once I get in, I intend to go to other rooms,” such as art, music, philosophy and religion.

“I love it all,” he said.

“I’m like a sponge. I’m just empty.”