My College Experience
With my graduation day looming ahead, I look back and think about my time at college. The only thing I would change about my college experience is I would have returned sooner. I grew up very poor, and situations beyond my control ensured that I could not attend college immediately after high school. I grudgingly accepted that, and assured myself that I would one day return. Then I became a mother, and everything changed. I no longer thought about college for myself. The hopes and dreams that I had planned for myself manifested into hopes and dreams for them. My focus had shifted to my children, and I would allow nothing to hold us back. I promised myself early on that my children would never be poor, so I have always been the mother that goes without to ensure that her children do not, and I can say that although we have struggled along the way my children have never been poor like I was.
My first job from age 16 to 19 was at Kmart. I actually thought I would work my way to management there and retire, but their bankruptcy ruined my plans. After they closed, I was given the option to return to college as part of the closing benefits for employees, but I had just married with a new baby at the time, so going to back to college was not a financially feasible option. I had to leave, and start all over. In the years since, I have worked for three other companies, and at all three of those I quickly worked my way into management positions. Please know that management positions without a degree pay far less than management positions with a degree, and you are forced to work endless hours to ensure that you keep that position. For example, at my last job of 8 years I was the "manager", the only person above me was the owner, I could do every job in the building, and most weeks I worked over 46 hours (one Saturday off per month). My last year there I almost brought home $17,000. Oddly enough, a week after I requested a raise I was laid-off for "lack-of-work". It was two weeks before Christmas, and I had just received a "bogus" pink slip. Was I enraged? Did I howl at the injustice or force a legal battle? No, I felt nothing but relief--relief from the stress of feeling unappreciated, overworked, and under-paid. At home that night, I assured my girls that I wouldn't start my job hunt until after Christmas vacation, and at 16 and 13 they were very excited to finally spend a holiday vacation with me. The rage and injustice fell away with my silent tears that night. I awoke with peace and happiness determined to enroll in Columbia State the next day...
My first job from age 16 to 19 was at Kmart. I actually thought I would work my way to management there and retire, but their bankruptcy ruined my plans. After they closed, I was given the option to return to college as part of the closing benefits for employees, but I had just married with a new baby at the time, so going to back to college was not a financially feasible option. I had to leave, and start all over. In the years since, I have worked for three other companies, and at all three of those I quickly worked my way into management positions. Please know that management positions without a degree pay far less than management positions with a degree, and you are forced to work endless hours to ensure that you keep that position. For example, at my last job of 8 years I was the "manager", the only person above me was the owner, I could do every job in the building, and most weeks I worked over 46 hours (one Saturday off per month). My last year there I almost brought home $17,000. Oddly enough, a week after I requested a raise I was laid-off for "lack-of-work". It was two weeks before Christmas, and I had just received a "bogus" pink slip. Was I enraged? Did I howl at the injustice or force a legal battle? No, I felt nothing but relief--relief from the stress of feeling unappreciated, overworked, and under-paid. At home that night, I assured my girls that I wouldn't start my job hunt until after Christmas vacation, and at 16 and 13 they were very excited to finally spend a holiday vacation with me. The rage and injustice fell away with my silent tears that night. I awoke with peace and happiness determined to enroll in Columbia State the next day...
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