An Importance of Having a Degree

Imagine being offered you dream job, now imagine it taken from your grasp just as quickly as it was presented to you. You may have all the experience in the world, but none of it matters if you don’t have a degree. This is why I decided to return to school. There are several reasons why; the humiliating situation I was in, realizing where I was in life, where I wanted to be and how I was going to get there, and seeing the benefits of obtaining my degree.

I experienced one of my most humiliating events in my life 5 months ago. I was working in a homeless shelter. I was running my own department. So when my boss offered me a promotion of opening up another section to my department I was thrilled. I immediately accepted the job. A week had passed, and I had already told my family and friends about my new job. The Director called me into her office and let me know that I would not be able to take the job due to not having a degree. She noted that I was qualified with my experience but it also need a degree behind it. I had to inform everyone that I had told that I was not getting the promotion. I was extremely embarrassed. I felt that I had failed in my adult life.

After the being passed up for a promotion, I thought about where I was in life and what was holding me back. I realized that I was content in my life and not moving forward or backwards. I saw myself stuck in a pattern of a nine to five job, and living paycheck to paycheck. I realized that I was stuck in a rut and wanted more for myself. I was hesitant of making a decision that would change my life.

I have always known that I’ve wanted to work with children. I had accomplished part of that goal. Having gone to community college, I received enough credits to teach and work with children. I was able to teach preschool, be a nanny, run a kids program in a residential facility, and teach Sunday school. I had become complacent and wanted more. I made the discussion to quit my job and return to school. My goal is to one day run a Preschool for under privileged kids. The only way I will get there is with an education for myself. I was scared of quitting something that was assured and safe, but I knew it had to be done. I met with my mentor, and over lunch discussed my options. We looked at many different scenarios, but the one that stood out was if I had time to work fulltime and go to school fulltime, I did not. I then realized that online school would be my best option. So I called up Ashford University and enrolled. I also took another job that was less demanding physically, mentally, and spiritually, I went back to being a nanny. At this point I knew I how I was going to obtain my goal of getting a degree.

I never realized how important it actually was to have a degree. I grew up in a small town where people worked the same trade jobs for years. When I moved to San Diego, and most recently, being passed up for a promotion, I saw how much of an impact it had. I now know the benefits of having a degree. The one that stands out the most is having a better paying job. With a better paying job, I will have a better opportunity of saving and one day reaching my goal of opening my Preschool center. Typically with a better paying job comes employer paid benefits. I know all too well know how I struggle to pay for health care out of pocket. Having a sense of completion is ideal to me. Not finishing my degree always hung over me and kept me from moving forward. With a sense of completion, I can start a new chapter in my life. With my new chapter in life, I can open up my center and start to help my community. In bettering myself, I can be fully submerged in helping others, and this is one of the benefits of having a education.

When I go to bed at night, I think to myself that I have come a long way and with each passing day I am working towards my future. Returning to school will not only make my dreams attainable but also won’t hinder me from moving backwards or being stuck in a rut. To truly move forward in life, one needs an education. When I’m older, I can tell my children how I saw myself going nowhere and the steps I took to get a higher education, and the end result of attaining it.