Day 18 - What is Your Proudest Accomplishment?

 

I have touched on this in the past - but my proudest accomplishment (aside from surviving this summer) would have to be getting my master's degree. Online. While working 40+ hours a week. 

I always wanted to be a high school history teacher. Hell, I student taught when I was in college and loved it. When I was a child, I taught my stuffed animals and sometimes my brother in the basement. Chalkboard and school books baby! 

After I took the MTEL (Massachusetts licensing test) three times and came within points of passing each time, I decided to give the testing (and my wallet) a rest. I can take this whenever I want. The only catch there was I had to drop my secondary education minor or stay in college for an extra year.. and the five year plan was not in my personal life plan - so I had to drop it. 

Fast forward to a month or so after graduation - and I was looking into post grad programs. I couldn't find a master's program I felt truly connected to.. so I stopped searching for a little while. I came across Kaplan University (now Purdue Global) who had an online program for Student Affairs - I felt compelled to apply. Within a day I was speaking on the phone with an advisor, and getting my future set. 

After speaking with the advisor, they told me the program I wanted was not going to fit what I wanted, but that the college administration and leadership program was more up my alley. After doing my research, I found that they were correct. I enrolled in a master's in higher education, with a concentration in college administration and leadership. 

I entered this season of life while moving out on my own for the first time, working a job I despised, and trying to figure out who the heck I was. My life changed pretty quickly - the program started mid December, and I had to adjust my schedule. I would get up early, go to the gym, go to work, work till 4:30, then head home for homework. Once I moved into my second apartment, the schedule stayed the same. Early morning gym runs, work at 6:30am until 4:30pm, then 4-5 hours of homework afterwards. Wash, rinse, repeat. 

It was exhausting. I finished the program with a 3.8 GPA, while giving up weekend plans with friends and a social life. I don't feel like I missed out on anything (that time in my life was WEIRD), but I do feel like I worked myself too hard. working 40+ hours a week for a job that gave ZERO shits about me, trying to keep my fitness in check, and get a master's degree was no small feat.

But I did it. I FREAKING did it! I am the only person in my family with a master's degree. That is also an accomplishment. So stinking proud of the work and the result!