As a twenty-something mother, my education is worth more than the tens of thousands of dollars in student loans. I am the first in my family to obtain a bachelor's degree. My son will be there when I walk across the stage (even though he's too young to retain that memory or even know what's going on). Not only am I getting my degree but I'm teaching my son the value of dedication and hard work.
Believe me, I know college isn't for everyone. It is an unfortunately harsh reality that in today's job market you need a degree to even be considered let alone competitive. Now that I'm finally done, I have something that will hopefully keep me with some sort of fragment of a chance at stable employment (but you never know anymore).
My college career lasted 7 long years. Through these 7 years I reflect and think about how much my life has changed. I orginally went to college right out of high school. Then two years later I decided to get a full time job and move out on my own. College became secondary to my new responsibilities. Years went by and suddenly I'm a wife, homeowner, then a mother... and still not done with school. My high school peers are out of college expoloring what the world holds for them. And there I was, still working at it.
Typically, college students go for their degree, it takes four years and they graduate at the ripe old age of 22. Some of them never even hold a full time job, pay rent, or have any form of major responsibility. I was looking at my intern today (yes, I have a staring problem) and thinking about how we're both graduating from college and what different worlds we live in. She is free from real responsibility and has the ability to put full focus on starting her career. I, on the other hand, have already started my career along with piling up a multitude of other responsibilities.
So, as a recent college graduate, am I on the same playing field as the younger twenty-somethings? I have experience, that's a plus. But does my mear three years of experience they don't have elevate me above the competition?
As a mom, wife, and home owner I have more at stake when it gets down to the nitty-gritty. Now that I've FINALLY finished college, I have a credential that I can carry with me for the rest of my career. With that said, I have my education to thank for the AWESOME job I have. I love going to work everyday.
Mad Mom, Class of 2009
