When you don't want to talk about something.

I'm 47, and I'm working on a BS degree. I don't want to talk about it. I don't like to talk about it, I don't like it when people ask me why I'm working on a degree and what I hope to do with the degree once I'm done... but, I'm not very good at deflecting questions.

Any advice? How do I get people to stop asking? How can I get away from nosy people?

well if I didn't want to go there, I wouldn't even tell people that I am in school.

It is probably because you don't really have a planned out reason yourself right now. Often it's uncomfortable to talk about the 'why" when one doesn't have a clear answer to that themselves. The simple answer "can" be, "It's because it is something I have wanted to do in my life".

I think what is more important with this question is "how" it bothers you and not that others are asking this, which is actually a common question people ask by the way.

I'd be very vague about what I did for a "living" ("I'm working on personal projects") and then instantly deflect by taking an interesting in them, "How about you?"

Right... and the student sitting next to me?

Actually, I have a very specific plan in mind..... but, I'm not sure if it will work out. I always have back up plans in mind, also.

Unfortunately, it's been my experience that when people ask questions like "what are you going to do with your degree?", they're usually the type of people that are also hoping you fail. And will check on you from time to time to see if their assumption (he's probably going to fail) is correct.

I don't think you can make people stop asking.

You could answer with 'I'm not sure,' or 'I'm just seeing where this takes me,' or something equally vague, and then immediately deflect with a question of your own.

I ask people what they want to do with X and it's not because I want them to fail. It's because it's a conversation starter -- if I am sitting in a class with someone and want to meet new people, I have to say something - and the class or program is what we have in common.