As I approach my final semester at school, I feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. This journey that took over 20 years to complete is not like everyone else's path. I started college straight out of high school with the intension it would only be a four-year journey. Starting with community college to help me gain an understanding of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and prepare myself better for the university life. I moved over to the Kalamazoo area to attend Western Michigan University that Fall. As many teenagers around me I was still trying to figure out what my purpose was and what I was passionate about. I started with Film and TV with a Communications minor. Quickly I learned my focus needed to be in the arts and I took every art class possible to grow my career path. Three years into taking a full load of classes and working part time I found life can change super quickly. I had to leave the university to focus on my family and felt like the path to graduation move further out of reach. I had my family, and my kids grew quickly, wanting them to know the value of an education I set out to finish a degree. Any degree that allowed me to still stay near my family and focus on gaining career training. I went back to Community College with a new sense of purpose and thrived in learning all about this new technology of Digital Art Design, it was the early 2000's pre-Facebook. 

For the first time I had the drive and the education to further my skills. My interest in digital design took me to the top of my class and I made the Dean's list for the first time in my college career. I finished with my Associates in Liberal Arts with a Digital design emphasis and I soon using my new skills in real job scenarios. Wanting to continue my education but only having community college near me I went for my second Associates Degree. I made it all the way to the final semester and had to take a leave in order to take a job offer. My career progressed and I took the skills I learned and practiced it daily. Each job opportunity expanded my skills, on the job training and opportunities to be mentored gave me the skills that I still use present day.

After years of hearing, I was unable to advance and missed opportunities due to lack of bachelor’s degree I decided to change that outcome. So, in 2019 I found a way to go back to Western Michigan University through online learning. I am forever grateful for this program and what it has given back to me. Now after 23years of leaving that university I am finally able to graduate with my Bachelor of Art from them. It means so much to me to get it from the school I originally wanted it from in the first place. My goal has finally come to an end as I graduate this Fall of 2021. My path has not always been linear, but my adventure and things I have learned along the way has shaped me into the person I am today. Education from major universities is a great quality in someone you are about to hire but it shouldn't be the only one. Someone's journey/story and experience should be a starting point. How willing are they to learn a new skill and to stay committed to a role within a company is vital to retaining talented people? 

So the next goal is to take a year off, enjoy life without constantly doing homework and relax. But to get back to work on my Master's Degree in Human Centered Design. I am so driven to make up for years of missed opportunities by given myself all the paths I can take forward.