And in the end…

So here we are, another semester ending. Many of my friends and classmates are graduating and heading off to the great unknown. I should be one of them, alas I am not.

I have been pursuing this dangling carrot called a degree since fall 2002. I had finished my Associate of Science, Medical Assisting with high honors that June. I expected that I’d be working in that field for a while then work my way up into administration through time and taking classes here and there. I enrolled in an online program that took all my credits and guaranteed me a bachelors degree in 18 months.

I started off strong with decent grades then I had to take math, which I suck at, online. It was the first F I had ever gotten. I felt like the Titanic after hitting the iceberg--I was sinking.

I took a few more classes but felt lost and confused as to what I really wanted. Then life happened. I had to work while my husband was in the Marines so I took what ever employment I could to help make ends meet. I did work at the first duty station in the ER as a tech, but learned really quickly that I was not cut out for the face paced environment at 30 something despite being able to do so at 20 when I was in the Navy.

I also got hurt. It would forever change my ability to be a medical assistant. I injured my neck, upper and lower back and knee while helping to restrain a patient that the police brought in on drugs. I imagine he was strong sober, on drugs he was superman. I was tossed around like a rag doll. It ended my brief clinical career as a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant)

For the remainder of the tour of duty in NOLA I was assigned to an administrative position on a long term care floor. I was content there. I liked the work, I liked the hours, so I decided to pursue my bachelors in Hospital Administration and transferred to another online program that accepted all the credits and was very military friendly. In other words, if I was changing duty stations I could take leave without penalties, something the previous online college had a problem with.

Meanwhile, we transferred to North Carolina and I was forced yet again to take a job to support the family. Only this time I was a legal secretary. I figured a secretary is a secretary so I could make this work. I kinda liked the job despite clashing with the owner. I changed my major to a business administrative track.

Then life happened again. Husband was sent away on training, my son was sick a lot due to being in daycare and Katrina happened. All were steeping stones on the way to me being let go.

Despite the wrong doing in the termination it was a blessing in disguise because I found my voice in my writing and was able to find paying work in it. I was working steady with feature stories in various places and figured that I could keep that up when we returned to Ohio after the end of my husbands enlistment.

It wasn’t the case. I found it was more “good ol’ boys” club then anything I experienced in the South. I needed a degree to even get grunt work jobs. I was forced back to work to support the family by returning to my CMA roots.

I liked the job and it was a nice balance of clinical and administrative. I kept taking the classes and figured one day I’d move up the hospital food chain. I change my major back to Hospital Administration. However, as life always seems too, it happened again. I didn’t make it through my orientation or trial period due to illness.

I went job hunting for something around less sick people in hopes that I wouldn’t catch every cold or flu in the county. I ended up temping at a wonderful place as a administrative assistant. It suited me well.

I learned about the non-profit sector, something I had never had on my radar until then. I worked with great teachers and people who believed in me. Sadly, it was only a temp job. I was quickly hired into another non-profit though as I changed my major yet again to business administration.

I had a knack for innovation and office efficiency. I could see the big picture and all the little pictures in between. Unfortunately my life force was sucked out of me over a year and a half by a boss that thanks to karma got her just rewards in the end.

So, I decided to move to a traditional university. I changed majors to Communications because I knew I wanted to work in a creative or writing field. I had a natural talent for it but I needed the tools to get anywhere with it.

When I came to UA, I brought in over 145 credits, not including military and the fact that my AS was not excepted for any of my transfer credits. I had to retake my sciences, maths, humanities & speech, for what is now the 3rd time. I sucked it up and thought I’ll get there, I’ll cross that stage before I know it.

I’ve managed to maintain dean’s list for every semester I’ve been enrolled. But life happened…

Loans ran out, husband laid off, they changed my major around before I could sign my contract for graduation.

I fell in love with Chinese culture and decided that if I had to take a language now I might as well take one I can use and love. Which lead me to taking on the Asian Studies Certificate and adding extra courses.

Now I am here, the last weeks before finals. Wondering what to do next. I did decide that I am taking the summer off for a mental and financial break. I have my trip to China in 2 weeks and I can’t wait.

What I will do next August is still up in the air. I am scheduled for classes, but who knows what life may bring this summer. I am still at least 1 year away from any degree if I can go full time. I have 2 children that are fast approaching college themselves.

I hope that in my time off, I’ll get the fire to learn going again and maybe win the lottery to pay for it. I also need the time to take care of my family which I have sadly neglected during my full time schooling. And don’t get me started on the state of our house and the basement in grave need of organizing.

Plus, I want to read for fun again and write because I have an idea not a paper due.

I guess we all can dream, right…

what happens when....

...you are on a medication that you are unaware that it makes you sensitive to the sun
...you normally dont burn so you aren't wearing sunscreen
...you ride on the back of a harley for 120 miles under mostly cloudy skies with a low cut tank top to look like all the other biker chicks




...you end up sunburned so bad that it gets into layers of skin causing blistering. When it peels it doesn't just take the top layer of skin with it...it goes several layers deep...and bleeds....and hurts...I have what you use on burns that is a gel that becomes a protective second skin on it. it feels like any sudden movements and the entire area will rip off again.

Lessons learned:

ALWAYS wear sunscreen
Know your medications if they make you sun sensitive let your doctor know.
Wear a t-shirt if you are going to be in the sun for extended periods so sensitive areas aren't burned.