The 40-year-old Grad Student
At the age of 39, I enrolled into a master’s counseling program. Going back to school can be daunting at any age but changing careers at my age, is teetering on mid- life crisis vibes. Plus, it was a long journey to complete my bachelor’s. I mean long. I started after high school like most people, but there were constant delays along the way (marriage, divorce, death). This is not uncommon approximately 1 in 3 students attending four-year colleges in the United States leaves college prematurely without obtaining a degree. Obtaining my degree was a personal goal of mines and as a first-generation college student I was determine to finish.
I have always been a non-traditional student. I started taking courses at a community college after I got married at the age 19. Even though, I may have looked like an average college student, I was a “wife”. But surprisingly, this was the closest I got to a real college experience. I attended classes during the day, I was far away from home (spouse was in military), and lived in a two bedroom apartment on base. Despite being married young, I was determined to get my degree and be successful. However, when that relationship ended tumultuously, so did my first try at college.
I was determined to go back. I had drunk the Kool-aide and believed that a degree can led to better jobs, better income, and better life. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the median income for high school graduates is $31,800, compared to $50,000 for college graduates and $64,000 for those with graduate degrees. Ultimately, I would finally earn my degree after 20 years. It was difficult. I was a single mother of two, which included a child with complex medical needs. Finishing my degree gave me hope that I could accomplish my goal and change my life.
I finally made good on a promise I made to myself at nineteen. Although I was happy, it was anticlimactic. I had held on to the belief that this piece of paper would change my life. It didn’t. While I was contemplating going to get a MBA, my son died. This change what I wanted and needed to do. If I was going to go back, I wanted to do something to help others. During my son’s life, I was helped by mental health professionals. I attended support groups and individual counseling to help me process my emotions and feelings. It made sense for me to start this journey. I want to help others the way they had help me.
There is a story behind everybody’s journey. This is mines. Hopefully, I am done with school but who knows? What has your journey been like? Comment below.