I never had a problem getting accepted into a college. However, I had a problem deciding what I wanted to pursue in life. Right after high school, I decided I wanted to go to cosmetology school. Then, I realized that at the time that it wasn’t going to work. So I enrolled in college, literally at the deadline. I attended my freshman year of college, majoring in Early Childhood Education. During the second semester, I found out I was pregnant and would be due in September. I decided to take the fall semester of my sophomore year off, since I’d be giving birth right after the start date. Needless to say, one semester turned into two semesters and now, I feel as if I’m completely starting over.

I am deciding to pursue all online courses for my first semester back. Since I will be juggling my daughter, classes, and work, this is the best decision for me. When you take online courses, the most important thing is self-control and self-discipline, both of which I feel I have. I am excited to return to school and to pursue my future career. Regardless of what barriers I faced the first time around, I know that it is not an option for me to give up on furthering my education. I have too much to succeed for, and now I see that.

With my year off, I’ve matured on many levels. I learned that sometimes you have to do what’s best for your situation. I feel if I hadn’t taken a year off, I would have fallen behind, or not succeeded at the level I plan to. I feel that everything would have been too overwhelming, and I could’ve possibly gotten myself into a hole. Many people feel like if they don’t finish things in the timeline the world mapped out for them, that they have become failures. I feel as if I am responsible for making my own time line. I feel as if the world can’t place me on a ticking clock, because every college student does not face the same challenges or barriers throughout their "4-years." I may be a little behind, but in the end, I will get to the finish line.

I reach out to students all over to say, don’t give up. There is always time to go back and try again. A couple of months ago, I would’ve told you that it’s impossible for me to go to school, work, and raise my daughter how I want to. Now, I have found a way to do all three. There’s always a way to succeed in a world that makes it easier for us to fail. Our future generations need great teachers, great doctors, and great dentists. That could be us, no matter what circumstances we face. I plead to all who have given up, or just fell behind, be great. There is no time better than now.