Almost all of our students worked AND went to school. There really wasn't much time for the impractical stuff. Some had children to deal with or aged parents, or a variety of other things. One young man (19) had to deal with his alcoholic mother.
They don't ignore reality--they DEAL with it. I often asked them, with a smile, if they were on the four-year plan to finish two years (60 units). Sometimes they came to class and I could see that they were just BEAT.
People don't stop making bad choices just because they are older. Some continue the stupidity throughout their entire lives. Some people learn early. There is no predictor, I found.
I LOVED those students and was proud of them and their accomplishments. I was on their side! They deserved it.
When I strike it rich, I’m going to start helping students pay off their loan debt. Mainly the STEM students. They need a break and ITA about older people being stupid.