I STILL DREAMED OF GOING BACK TO COLLEGE , BUT I WASN ’ T SURE HOW I COULD HANDLE BEING BOTH A MOTHER AND A STUDENT ,
WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME .
In
1994 , I graduated from Terrell ’ s Bay High School in Centenary , South Carolina . I attended a local technical school in the fall after graduation , but planned on later transferring to a four year college in pursuit of a Bachelor ’ s Degree in Education . I was busy chasing my dream of working with children . College was totally different from high school . I began growing into adulthood as I started learning and thinking independently for the first time .
My plan for sophomore year was to go back to technical school in the fall of 1995 , but during that summer , I was blessed to get a job taking care of children . When fall semester rolled around , I decided to continue keeping the children , instead of going back to school . In 1996 , I found out that I was expecting a child . Due to complications during my pregnancy , I had to remain off of my feet . After my daughter was born , in order for me to take care of her , I chose to go back to work . Because I wanted the best for her , five years later , I decided to move to Columbia , South Carolina , where I worked at two childcare facilities . Because my daughter and I were both in the same daycare center , I was able to work while childcare was provided for my baby . I was thankful for this arrangement because I didn ’ t feel as though I was losing too much time with her .
As the years passed , I became a mother of two , welcoming my son into our family . I still dreamed of going back to college , but I wasn ’ t sure how I could handle being both a mother and a student , while working full-time . I didn ’ t give up though . One day , a flyer came in the mail advertising night and online classes at a local technical college . At the age of 36 , I decided to take a leap of faith to finally fulfill my passion in Human Services / Early Childhood Education . Because so much time had passed since my brief college experience many years prior , I knew the road was not going to be easy . Thankfully , I have had lots of support and encouragement along the way .
My mother , Ruth Reed , is my biggest inspiration in going back to school . I could not have done this without her . She knows that this dream has been placed on my heart for a long time , and she did her best to make sure nothing stood in the way of my dream
I STILL DREAMED OF GOING BACK TO COLLEGE , BUT I WASN ’ T SURE HOW I COULD HANDLE BEING BOTH A MOTHER AND A STUDENT ,
WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME .
I didn ’ t give up though .
coming to fruition . My cousin , Serena Kelly , has also inspired me and motivated me to be the best I can be . As we grew up together , we would always talk about how we wanted to go back to college to earn our degrees ; however , we worried about not being able to spend time with our children . After lots of prayer and motivation , Serena and I are now both going to college to finish what we started , while still managing our families in the process .
When I went back to school in August 2012 , I was working at a Head Start Center in Columbia , South Carolina . My director , Mrs . Sandra Kelly , who had graduated with a Human Services / Early Childhood Education degree , convinced me that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to doing . Juggling work every day and school four nights a week is not an easy task , but I am determined . It requires balance - I did not want work and school to consume all of my time because my biggest fear is not being around for my children .
One of my struggles has been making sure my children get the attention they need . Thankfully , since my daughter is now older , she has been able to step in and help out with her brother and also with chores around the house . There are times though when I ’ m not able to attend PTO meetings or school performances because of class . Missing these events is hard for me as a mother . Due to my class schedule , I don ’ t make it home for dinner some nights , but I always make sure I am home for my children ’ s bedtime . continued
SHEMAGAZINE . COM AUGUST 2017 89