Today is the day of my MBA graduation, but this year I decided 3 graduation ceremonies is my limit. I walked at high school, college and law school (which I almost missed because flights were looking slightly cheaper to Europe for our elopement had I booked on graduation day rather than the day after)...but you could not have paid me to sit through yet another graduation ceremony for my Masters.
I never though I would reach this point, but Lorelai is the reason I've "seen the light" and decided I will never again start another degree. I've spent 26 of my 30 years of life collecting degrees...and I'm done. It's been a great road, and I know I will never stop learning, but as far as my career aspirations go I cannot fathom a reason I would need to go back and get yet another formalized higher education degree.
I've done a little bit of everything, from private college to community college, large in-state university to one with just about 2,500 students. It's been fun I have absolutely ZERO regrets. But it is over, and a pretty amazing feeling overall.
I never thought I'd be graduating from a degree while holding the title "mom". For those of you who have, I applaud you because this was by far my most difficult degree of all. The coursework was not as rigorous as others I've been through, but working full time is a strain enough on any new mom, and adding night class on top of that was extremely challenging. My motivation to complete this degree was sorely lacking once Lorelai showed up. I knew it would be a struggle, which is why I took no time off from my MBA when Lorelai was born. I took classes up until about 36 weeks pregnant, then had winter break and started back while still on my maternity leave when she was just 3 weeks old.
Side Note: Having to leave class to pump when you're in a class full of 24-year-olds who have never had a full-time job and went straight from undergrad to their MBA was not easy. Although most 30-somethings can recognize the infamous Medella pumping bag, the dirty looks I received from my classmates after entering my class late from our 5 minute break each week was incredibly frustrating. If you've been there, I get you...and it sucks.
That all being said, the MBA program was unlike other degrees I've worked towards. I loved the practical teachings of how this will apply to my current position and career goals. My goal was to learn the material and be able to apply it, not just see how high of a grade I could earn. It's been a good experience overall, but if I ever consider going back to school...my whole family knows they have an obligation to give me a reality check (i.e slap on the face) and remind me that this is it for me.
When my parents were taking me down to Oklahoma for college, I still remember my dad turning to me in the car and saying "We didn't think you'd go to college". Which was a bit of shock for me as I assumed that was just what the next step was. I understand why he said it, it was because I was a bit of a "free spirit" in our family. My dad and I had a tendency to butt heads, and I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. So I went through being an English major (with the intent of perhaps going to law school in the future) to a business major. Although, I loved Jane Austen, it was the first of two classes I ever dropped during my life. I know the teacher loved when I walked up to her and said "Here's the deal, this class is going to take way too much time away from studying for my classes that I will actually USE later in life. I've decided to be a business major. I'm dropping this class."
So business it was! Near the end of my junior year a friend mentioned the LSAT was coming up. I decided to sign up that week, and see what would happen. I showed up that day surprised to find out the test would take 2 hours longer than I had thought, and contained 2 extra sections that I didn't know were on the test. An yet, I did well enough to be accepted into 3 well respected law schools. If that wasn't a clear sign that God had a plan for me, I don't know what else would have been. If it were for my Jane Austen class bringing me to the realization I needed classes with more application to a future career, and God leading me to the LSAT...I never would have ended where I am today.
In law school I was accepted into the joint MBA/JD program, and one class into the MBA portion I dropped the class (the second of my dropped classes) and dropped out of the program. The business person in me decided no one would pay me more for having a JD/MBA right out of the gate, and some day I'd like to work for a company that would pay for it. After law school I took 2 glorious years away from school. Granted, during that time I was an instructor for an MBA program, I was not a student. We worked hard to pay off our student loans, while I was a practicing attorney and newlywed. After the loans were paid off, I decided to look long-term at what I wanted to do for my career.
We had our hearts set on living in Denver, and I applied for only one job in Omaha during that time. It was the job in Omaha where I ended up landing, and it was a difficult decision to make. I knew I would never go back to private practice, and although I disliked it in general I was worried about leaving something I knew. God had a plan, and I was hired on at the insurance company in Omaha where I work and absolutely love.
When I knew I was switching companies, I immediately applied to the MBA program in Omaha. Classes began just a couple months after I joined the company, and I was thrilled to find an employer who valued higher education and assisting their employees financially to continue learning. Kevin and I decided to cash-flow the MBA program (as we would be paying about 1/3 out of pocket).
I wanted to share my journey to remind myself how far I've come. In the thick of things, switching majors, dropping a class (or an entire program) was an extremely difficult decision, but I believe God had a plan for me. Each step brought me to where I am today. There is no way I could have done any of this without the support of my grandparents, my parents, my sister and Kevin.
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