I made it!

Well kids its time to do some self recognition! I did it!!!! Yesterday was my last day of class, I made it, can you believe it? (I know I am still in awe of it too)! In January of '09 I started the journey with the University of Phoenix not really knowing what to expect. I knew that I didn't have the time to go to a ground campus like 'everyone' else and well frankly I had missed that boat considering I was already 22. Since I was working full time and had multiple side jobs going to class online seemed to suit me best. Unlike my first go-around with The Western School of Health and Business (Joke cough joke joke) I did my research this time. I wanted to make sure that no matter how I was going to school that it was going to be legit and actually mean something. I know what you all are thinking, if you go to school and complete it, it should always mean something, and you are absolutely right. However, as I learned with the Western School, where I earned my Associates , they no longer exist! They just up and changed their name one day, no longer offer any of the same courses they did when I went there, and I had a heck of a time trying to explain this to the UoP when my transfer credits showed up with a different name on them compared to where I told them I went to school. It was a real mess to say the least.

The UoP seemed to have everything I wanted/needed. It was a legitimate University, I would be able to walk a stage (a real one) once I graduated, and most importantly I could go to school when it worked best for me. Piece of cake, this was going to be a walk in the park! Why didn't everyone take online classes, is what I was thinking. No teachers to see you, I log on when ever I wanted, I was my own boss, GREAT! Let me just tell you, those happy thoughts went away quickly, just about as fast as they popped into my head. I think I made it to maybe my fifth class before I wanted to pull my hair out. I can remember sitting in front of the computer, after a long day at work just staring at the screen, the honeymoon was over as they say, I was staring at a class for math, my worst enemy!

What was I thinking?! Online classes? Hardest thing EVER! Not to mention I was not the best at math so that made it even harder. Taking online classes requires so much self discipline and self teaching. You have to make yourself get online and do the work, log in every day, do your readings, and learn something! Now don't get me wrong ground classes are hard too but there is a bit more motivation there, knowing that you will be face to face with the teacher and there is social interaction with other students. It just was not at all as easy as I had anticipated it to be. 28 classes later and a few bumps in the road, (my wonderful son being born, and having to move with the hubs for the USCG) I did it! I have completed all my classes and I am a proud college graduate and I will have my Bachelors of Science in Business with a concentration in Human Resources.

I could not have done it with out all the love and support of my friends and family. My husband has had to deal with me staying up till all hours of the night working on assignments and having to say 'no I can't go to the beach today' and that is all over now! For the first time since I graduated High School in '04 I get to actually enjoy my summer! No work, no school, nothing! Its been a long road but I am so very happy I did it, an education is something no one can every take from you! I will soon be the proud owner of a very expensive piece of paper that will certainly be displayed on a wall somewhere!