This is Ramona.

Ramona started her undergrad degree at age 18, but

chose not to follow through until she was 25 with a kid.

Now Ramona is 29 living on.

Finish college at 21 or 22.

Don't be like Ramona.

Hello out there. Obviously, I am Ramona. I'm actually pretty awesome. I'm an award winning public speaker, an author, blogger, vlogger, blah, blah, blah. I'm not downing myself, and my self esteem is extremely high. I don't need any suicide prevention. I love myself. However, as I continue to mature and settle into my adulthood, I'm doing lots of self reflecting. If someone would have told me that at age 29, my son and I would be living on campus at a private university, I probably would have laughed in his or her face. How could someone possibly live on campus and pursue a degree with a three year old? What kind of strange lady would wait until she was almost 30 to decide to live the college life?

It's funny how life has a way of shaking things up.

Although I have few regrets about the decisions I've made in my life, if I could do it all again I would follow through with college right out of high school. I wouldn't have taken education for granted. I would have stayed at Bowling Green State University. Instead, I completed one semester at BGSU, one at John Carroll, one at Santa Monica Community College, and one at Tri-C. From the ages of 18-24 I bounced around from school to school and job to job. I was a rudderless young adult without a care in the world.

But one day in September of 2011, I found out there was a human growing in my belly. It was at that moment that I knew I had to turn my life around and get some focus and direction. So I published my first book before my son arrived on the planet. Once he was officially an Earthling, I enrolled at Tri-C once more, and earned my Associate's degree. Then I transferred to BW, and landed a seat in the SPROUT program.

I'm a tough cookie, so adversity doesn't scare me or stop my shine. I will say this though, why put yourself through unnecessary hardships if it can be avoided somehow?

Had I just finished school before I got married and had a kid, I'd be independent today. I would have a stable career, plenty of savings, a car, and a home. Now, I'm trying to play catch up, while raising my kid, and trying to date again (I guess).

The moral of the story folks, is to follow through NOW! Even if you are undecided, or want to travel, or hate school. It's only 4 years out of your entire life. By the time you're 21 or 22 at least you'll have one or two degrees under your belt from a reputable institution as a safety net. Do NOT leave BW empty handed. Take advantage of all the resources and opportunities presented to you.

TRUST ME, you do not want to be damn near 30 years old surrounded by students 10-12 years under you. Finish now and finish strong. These years go by so quickly. One day you're on the verdant campus of Bowling Green screaming in the bleachers of a Falcons game. The next day you're lugging a car seat from Ritter to Bonds... Learn from Ramona, don't repeat her mistakes.