I can’t believe it’s been over five years since I finished my bachelors degree. I attempted college many times back in the day. I tried many different majors. I even turned some of that college credit into careers.

I tried one semester at a community college in fashion design. That was the furthest I got with that. Then I perused the idea of going to school to learn to cut hair. I decided on day 1 that it wasn’t for me. Then I started going to school for accounting. Once the semester hit where I had a class focused on stocks & bonds, I dipped out. It was boring. I absolutely hated it. On to nursing school! I started with getting my Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate & went to work at an assisted living home. I have many, many fond memories during my time with the residents. They brought so much joy and laughter to my every day life. While working as a CNA, I was going to school for nursing. I was doing extremely well & acing my classes…….and then there was a terrible accident.

My brother passed away from a freak firework accident. The box exploded and hit him. It was two days short of his 18th birthday. Seeing him in the hospital before they took him to surgery to try to reduce his brain swelling hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew I couldn’t bare the trauma of seeing another child and family go through something like this so I stopped pursuing my nursing degree.

Eventually, I started back at school, but this time I was going for Child Development. Once I received my Child Development Certificate, I started working as an Assistant Teacher at a daycare center. I continued going to school until I became qualified to be a Teacher. I absolutely loved my work & the kids that I taught and cared for everyday. The only thing that could take me away from it and did, was becoming a mom. I decided to stay home to raise my kids. As every mom knows, you become obsessed with taking photos of your kids. I already had a love of photography since I was a kid. I still have photo albums of my friends and many memories that I photographed as a teenager. One day it just clicked. Why wasn’t I making my love for capturing memories into a career? And so I did…….

Fast forward many years & I had a longing for finishing college. I decided to go back and finish that accounting degree after all. I wanted a backup plan if I decided photography wasn’t for me anymore and BONUS, I could learn to keep better records of my business expenses. Lucky for me, many of my credits from my first go at accounting transferred. I was able to get my bachelors degree in 2.5 years because of transfer credits AND taking 15+ credits fall, spring & summer terms throughout my time in school.

Unfortunately, the timing was terrible. I finished college in 2020. Graduation ceremonies weren’t a thing that year because Covid was running rampant. We submitted photos to be put in a slide show that Rasmussen put together for graduates to commemorate all of their hard work. I am extremely proud of all of the work that I put into finishing school so quickly, but my heart still hurts because I wasn’t able to celebrate in a big way. I have that big important piece of paper and photos of me in my cap & gown. I so desperately wanted to be able to walk across that big stage while my kids cheered me on. I still hope I made them proud and gave them a good example of how to push hard to make your dreams come true.

This season of life, the later college years, was extremely hard. EXTREMELY HARD. I will fully admit, I do not look back on it with fond memories. My mental health tanked. I was going through some very personal things that are still too hard for words. I’m just thankful I made it. If it weren’t for my kids, I’m not sure that I would have. I am more thankful for them than they will ever be able to comprehend.

Never let it be too late to achieve your goals. It took me 19 years……but I finally graduated with a bachelors in Accounting AND Summa Cum Laude at that.