I tried going to alternative school while working and pregnant but that did not last but a semester either. I was to worried about what my child’s father was doing that I also quit going to that school. Six months after having my first child I ended up pregnant with my second one. I knew from then that I had no chance of ever going back. So I got married at 17 and started just playing the house wife and mom, till it came to me having to find a job.
Regrettably, I discovered that I do not feel comfortable around groups of children. Throughout my undergraduate degree there was always a little nagging voice in the head telling me that I was on the wrong track but I chose to ignore it and forged on to what I had convinced myself I wanted. Within months of my new career I knew that it just was not the proper setting for me. After four years I made the challenging decision to leave teaching to find
What degree should I get? After asking myself these questions, I felt like there was no chance I could get into college and earn a degree that would better my future. Some people may find returning to school a very easy decision but, it takes motivation, determination, and confidence. I always thought when I finished high school I would take a year off and then start college. Most things do not happen the way we expected and, I did not start college a year after high school.
I try looking for a job first to take care of my daughter and pay for my finances but that wasn’t successful. I needed to have a high school degree and a few years’ experience. It was a few days before I contacted Student Services at a nearby school and enrolled immediately. My journey has just begun and I never knew the road to success could be so difficult. I had many sleepless nights and so many assignments I thought I would never finish.
As I’ve stated previously on this blog, the three-semester deal wasn’t my first time at college. I had previously gone to college when I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be there. In high school I was a straight-A honors student, President of the math club, and captain of the Academic Decathlon team. That momentum carried me forward, and without really ever deciding if it was what I wanted, I found myself with four more years of school ahead of me. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but my heart just wasn’t in it.
I dropped out of school when I had my first child and I didn’t get my high school diploma until I had my 3th child. I was very determined to at least get my high school diploma that was a successful day when I received my High School Diploma. My next challenge was to go to college staying focused. I’ve been part of activities and would stop right in the middle, only because either it wasn’t interesting or I would get frustrated. But I came to find out that it was not a great idea to start something and not finish, only because it would start to become a habit and your life would always be flip flop, plus it wasn’t a good example.
My mother decided to homeschool me; I am the first in my family to pursue higher education. This makes taking on this pursuit somewhat scary. Even so, I love learning. Because of this love of learning, I am still enjoying the process even though I am apprehensive and intimidated. Albert Einstein said, "Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death."
From the beginning of my school career, my elders always stressed the importance of education. Throughout high school, I never understood why an education was so important, I often would goof off or not take my studies seriously. While most high school graduates are deciding where to go to college and what to study, I decided to focus on raising a family. When my youngest child turned three, I finally entered the workforce. This is when I realized how important a college education really was.
Obtaining a college degree is important to me because it would enable me have many opportunities to provide a secure future for my family. I have been unemployed for almost 3 years and all vacancies in the newspaper require at least a first degree. With all those college and university graduates these days it’s so competitive in the job market. Although a college education was emphasized all throughout my high school years the motivation wasn't there until I had a baby. I realized that I was no longer living for myself.
I want this for myself! For too many years I have walked around with a horrible self-esteem, in fact my whole life. I have had multiple friends return to school to further their education in the last few years. I kind of felt left out, but the time was just not right yet. A couple of months ago, I just knew that the time to pursue my education had come.