COMPLETION

When I graduated H.S. in 1994 I knew exactly what I wanted to study.  I wanted to be a doctor more than anything.  I was in the Pre-med program and excited to see what life had in store for me.  During my freshman year in college, major curve ball...I got pregnant with my first wonderful daughter.  WOW, talk about a change of plans.  I put all of my "professional" dreams on hold and was lucky enough to stay at home and raise my daughter...then another daughter.  Once Kassidy was old enough to go to school, I went back to work full time.  The company I worked for has a great education program so while I worked, they paid for my school.  Unfortunately, I had to settle for Business Management since Nursing was not in my scope of work.  I took advantage of the program so I could finish as many general classes as I could but I knew Business was not my passion, not like the medical field.  The bloodier the better! 
Now I have the opportunity to stay at home again to raise my little man.  I love being with him every day to watch him grow and discover life.  I love that I get to pick my girls up from school every day.  Best of all, I don't have to put Turner in daycare.  I am grateful that I get to do everything that a mom should do; cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.
As I raise my girls, now 13 & 8, I want them to know the importance of an education.  Especially in this economy, education is what sets you apart from someone else in the workforce.  At the same time, Dennis and I have tried to instill in them that once they begin something, they should finish it.  I felt like every time I told my girls to finish homework, finish reading a book, etc I wasn't showing them that example because I haven't finished school myself.  So Dennis and I talked and we've decided I will go back to school.  This time I'm going to for something I love; nursing.  So yesterday I took my 3 kids, drove to the college campus, pulled my stroller out of the truck, put my little man in it and walked side by side with my girls to the lobby of the Student Services building and put in my application, scheduled orientation, requested all transcripts and set an appointment with my advisor.  I was getting some weird looks from other younger students walking through the lobby but that's ok.  This is something I want to do with the support of my family because ultimately I am doing this FOR my family.  This is how I look at it, I'm going to be 35 by the time I finish.  I'm going to be 35 either way, with or without the degree.  I'll have to take 3 pre-requisite classes before I apply to the nursing program, hopefully in August. 
Wish me luck as I complete what I started!