New Adventures

New adventures are always around the corner. I’ve spent the past year learning everything I can for a new career, moved out of the childhood home, and started a new relationship. Preparing for a new career has been a complex and tiring process. One part of that journey is about to come to an end. I’m about to graduate with my second bachelor’s degree. This has been in the works for over two and a half years. I started my healthcare management degree when I was working as an activities coordinator in a memory care unit. I’d explored becoming activities directing, going as far as to get my state certification. I’d spent so much time telling myself that the only worthwhile career involved working with people directly. I had tried to volunteer in the business office where I worked because I was interested in possibly being a business office manager. When I did ask to shadow the business office manager, I could tell based on her response, it was going to be a no-go. I had never taken a business course and I had a feeling I needed to find a way to expose myself to a new set of career options. 

Going back for my second bachelor’s is a decision I do not regret in the slightest. I view going back to school as taking control of my life after my mental health crisis. I had gotten my first degree while in the throes of mental illness and when I didn’t understand myself. Restarting the undergraduate progress helped me feel as though the world was full of possibilities. I had never taken a full online course load and wasn’t sure what to expect. I ended up loving all of it. I enjoyed how I could spend as much or as little time on the material as I wanted. When I had attended college in person, I was always reminded that I didn’t know where I fit in the social order. I would see the sorority house across the street from campus and it served as a permanent reminder that I would never belong on campus. I know if I went back with the confidence I now possess, I’m sure it would’ve been a better experience. As they say, hindsight is 20/20. 

The irony of my college experience is that of myself and my two siblings I should’ve stayed the closest to home and I gone the farthest away. If I could do it all over, I would have gone to Kennesaw State University and majored in information technology. This would’ve allowed me to be close enough to home for frequent visits and far enough away to learn independence. I now wish I would’ve studied information technology because it would’ve given me a leg up on my desired career. The older I get, the more I realize that there’s always something that in retrospect that can be improved upon. I’ve learned to not beat myself up and to use what lessons I have learned to make my life better. I’m grateful that I got a do-over when it comes to college. 

It’s intimidating realizing that such a big part of my life will be ending shortly. While a master’s degree is somewhere on the horizon, it will probably be several months away. I have informal education that I’ll be pursuing that is more aligned with my desired career but it’s not going to be the same. I greatly enjoy continuity and change is always hard. I’m excited about this new adventure post-second baccalaureate and hope to take y’all along on the journey.