There it is, a cropped screenshot from my computer. I have been working my tail off since January and it's finally there to see, in black and white. I worked 25 hours a week, held down a full course load, took care of my family and managed a 4.0 GPA.
It was not easy. After my lack of a spring break, I got burned out. My perfect attendance failed. A couple of times, my depression had me ready to quit, but I pressed on. And on, and on. I wrote papers in my head and made notes at work between customers. I did algebra on slow Sunday mornings. I did homework constantly, anywhere I could grab a minute. I learned to make flash cards to remember composers for my music class. I learned that a take home test isn't always better. I learned to do my algebra homework the day I learned the formulas or have them lost to my brain forever.
Mostly, I learned about me. When I found out that the RT program was out of my reach, I was thrown. I thought if I made a decision, I needed to stick to it and make it happen. Not the way it works. I had to learn to adapt and be fluid. I had to stick one toe out of my comfort zone and look around at what else was in the world.
I looked at U of L and Jefferson Community College. I looked at WKU. I researched programs and searched my own heart for what I needed and wanted in my life. I chose the career path of RT because I knew I wanted to be in a field that would help others like Tommy had been helped. I didn't want to go into nursing and I didn't want to be a social worker with my hands tied. I don't want to be an accountant, a lawyer, or a baker. I want to work with people, but in a medical capacity that isn't sitting typing all day. I want to interact, and I wanted to focus on kids. Being an RT fulfilled all of those, but the program doesn't open again for me until 2016, and for an Associate's degree, financial aid will only pay for me to attend school for 3 years. I saw so many signs that it wasn't for me. Fluid..
In my research, I found that Western Kentucky University (WKU) has a campus right next to the campus I attend now. I researched everything they offered stuck out a couple of more toes out of my comfort zone and found out what I could do with a BA in Sociology. Turns out, LOTS. Parole officer, Workforce recruiter, Disabilities advocate... and there it was.... Child Life Specialist. Honestly, about half of the things I found I could do with the degree interested me off the bat (and it was a very long list), but CLS jumped out at me for all of my reasons and criteria for a great career for me.
The day I turned in my books to the campus bookstore, I went to the records office and officially changed my major to a Associate's of Arts to transfer in 2015 to WKU to enter their Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology program. I'm really excited, but I'm keeping myself fluid and trying to keep inching out of my comfort zone into a world that I never knew I could love so much.
For now, it's summer break for me until August, then I head back to class. My original plan was to work full time over the summer to pay my bills until I can get more financial aid and attend class full time. It's looking like I won't get the hours I had hoped for any time soon, so until then, I'm making the best of it, including not having internet access at home. Just a small price to pay for being able to attend classes full time and have a degree in a couple of years. I will update more about my summer as I can!
