Degree in Progress: A 25-Year Journey (and Counting!)
I originally set foot in college as a wide-eyed, 18-year-old who had just graduated high school in 1997. The "information superhighway" was still in its infancy, and the internet was a mystical, almost mythical thing that we accessed in clunky computer labs. The Dewey Decimal System was our trusty guide through the library, and if you needed to research something, you had to brave the dial-up connection and wait for what felt like forever for the internet to load. Back then, I was brimming with enthusiasm, though I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. But college—well, that was just the thing you did after high school, right? My parents didn’t attend college when they were younger, but my mom was a different story. She didn’t go right out of high school—she already had me by the time she decided to go back and pursue her dreams. She became a registered nurse, and seeing her determination and success sparked a fire in me to do better and be better. Little did I know that it would take 25 years, a mountain of student loans (around thirty-thousand dollars), and a whole lot of soul-searching to finally earn my bachelor's degree.
Fast forward a year later, and I’ve decided to take the plunge once more and pursue a Master's Degree. In hindsight, the journey hasn’t been easy, but every misstep and detour has helped me grow in ways I never imagined. It’s been a winding road, but one filled with valuable lessons. As I embark on this next chapter, I’m more determined than ever to challenge myself, expand my horizons, and keep growing—because let’s face it, learning is an endless adventure, and this time, I’m prepared for the ride!
I cannot tell you how different my perspective is now compared to when I first set foot in college in the late '90s. Back then, school felt like something I had to do, a box to check on the path to adulthood. Now, I genuinely love learning, and the thought of getting anything less than an A would devastate me. The fervor with which I approach school this time around is like night and day. I don’t just want to succeed—I want to grow, to push myself, to soak in as much knowledge as I can. But if I’m being honest, it’s about more than just grades or career advancement. What I’m really searching for is purpose.
And here’s a little secret: I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. At 45, I’m a secretary at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, and I’ve spent nearly 20 years serving the public in one way or another. I know that I want to continue making a difference, but in what capacity? That part is still a mystery. Maybe this Master’s degree will lead me down a new path, or maybe it will reaffirm the one I’m already on. Either way, I’m embracing the journey, knowing that every lesson, every challenge, and every late-night study session is shaping me into the person I’m meant to be.
I am all too familiar with the old adage, "Life is about the journey, not the destination," or even the classic, "You only live once." So, I might as well keep trying my hand at different things until I find the one that sticks. In the meantime, I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride. This Master’s degree—a Master of Education in Training and Development with a concentration in Leadership and Human Performance—should land me somewhere where I can make a real difference. But if it doesn’t? Well, I’ll proudly hang my diploma next to my bachelor's and keep being a fantastic secretary. Because that’s okay too.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this long and winding road, it’s that success isn’t always about having a clear destination—it’s about embracing the journey, wherever it may lead. Whether this Master’s degree opens new doors or simply adds another well-earned achievement to my wall, I know one thing for certain: I’ll never stop learning, growing, and pushing myself to be better. Life doesn’t come with a roadmap, but that’s part of the adventure.
So, if you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or like you’re running behind—don’t sweat it. Keep learning, keep exploring, and keep chasing whatever sets your soul on fire. Whether you’re 18 or 80, it’s never too late to start something new. And if all else fails, at least you’ll have some good stories (and maybe a hefty student loan balance) to show for it.
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