I’ve begun a new adventure. Well, sort of new. I began this adventure 12 years ago as a junior in high school. I was one of the post secondary education option (PSEO) students. I was able to complete my junior English credits by taking college courses. Fun, right?
I continued into my senior year, taking 9 credits my first semester along with my essential courses at high school (you know, choir and band) while working. Again I loved it. The freedom of college where no one looked over your shoulder or treated you like a child was wonderful! I even did another semester right out of high school.
I transferred to a new college that spring, one where I might have flourished had I not unexpected dropped out 2 months into my first semester. Being away from everyone I knew locked in a dorm with new people while snow fell every day wasn’t helpful for my disposition. So instead I moved in with a guy back home. I felt it was a way better option at 18 I assure you.
Instead I spent time working for quite a while. Eventually my boyfriend at the time began going to classes and I too joined for another semester. We split up, I ended up back home and back at my original starting college. It was good to be somewhere familiar 
I attended for another semester while working 12 hour nights. This was too much, so I eventually transferred to 8 hour nights and attended another semester. Unfortunately none of these were full-time so while I had taken enough semesters to almost have a 4 year degree, I was still short a semester for the AA transfer degree I was seeking.
My husband and I met, married and moved halfway across the country in under 2 years. We moved for me to go to school, a very specific school. Then we got pregnant, unexpectedly, twice. Suddenly my full-time income was more important than school work. I spent the next 5 years working and raising my boys.
Then this summer I got laid off. Thank god I got laid off. I have been a stay-at-home-mom raising my beautiful babes for 6 months. My big boy is in pre-k, so me and the little one have had a blast in our time together one-on-one. But that college itch came back.
This semester I begin again. My credits transferred strangely so instead of 1 semester to graduate with an AA degree I have 2. But there is an amazing University in town to transfer to once those credits are complete. I am taking a full load for the first time practically ever. And man is it good to be back
I’m a student at heart, I love everything about learning. My new backpack, my new notebooks, my school books that cost me $400 (well, maybe not the loss of money), my professors, all of it. I feel like I have a second purpose now, a way to use my brain outside of toddler growth. I am fascinated how my attitudes have changed in the last 10 years. Sometimes I want to yell at the “kids” in my classes who are slacking off and say this is an opportunity you will not get back! Take advantage. Please take advantage.
Either way, I mostly want to say I will be engrossed in the throes of pre calculus, psychology, human values and my favorite of them all, creative writing for the next 15 weeks. I feel such gratitude to be on this extended journey once again. This may be a hard step but one I am ready for.
May all your dreams come true in the strangest of times.
Namaste
Congrats on your return, Robin!