In December of 2009, I made a decision on a whim that would affect the rest of my life. After much research, I decided to finish a dream I began almost 15 years prior. In August of 1995, I enrolled at our local community college with no real thoughts on where it would take me, hoping that after a few courses I would have some idea of which path to follow. It didn't take long before I thought I knew which route to take. After taking some English courses with one of the most wonderful English instructors I've ever had the pleasure learning (and working with), I was pretty certain that I wanted to pursue a future in education.
Fast forward to August of 1997...Having a young daughter at home and attending classes full-time, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get my foot in the door at Carroll Community Schools. Three days before school started, I was hired as a paraeducator whose primary responsibilities included monitoring a few studyhalls, lunch and recess. This would be a breeze...or so I thought. It did not take me long to decide that maybe teaching was not the route I wanted to take at that time. Don't get me wrong, I loved the kids and the atmosphere. I just didn't feel that this career was cut out for me. But I stuck with it, even though I had to put my education on hold to raise my family. Working my way up an alternate ladder, I soon found myself in the position I currently hold and love, but deep down inside, I felt something lacking.
So after a little over 14 years after I began my educational endeavors, I jumped the gun and enrolled in an online program to obtain a degree in Education and Public Policy. I remember feeling so overwhelmed and even shedding several tears, thinking there was no possible way that I would ever be able to finish. After making some compromises and eliminating almost all of my little free time to study and write papers, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Six weeks ago, I was faced with a decision that I will never regret. My advisor, Rachel, had called to inform me that my next scheduled class had no other students enrolled. I could take the class by myself, or wait until another student enrolled. Knowing I had only two courses left, I made the decision to take the class solo, quite hesitant of how it would work out and the extra time I would have to put into it to ensure that I was getting all I could out of the course. I was not let down. In this course, I had the pleasure of working with an instructor who challenged my perspectives and encouraged me to dig deeper into my understanding of education and the policies that do and don't make it work. Today, I turned in my final paper for this course and feel sad about having to part ways with Dr. Thomas.
Next Tuesday, I will begin my final class and then its on to bigger and better endeavors. Having already been accepted into the Masters of Ed program with a specialization in Family and Community Services, it is my hope that some day I can be the mentor that so many of my instructors along the way have been for me!
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