Second chance college

I graduated high school in 1993. I had a full scholarship for my college courses. I went to college because it was the right thing to do, because I thought I wanted to do “something” in business. At that time, I lived with my parents and worked. All expenses were paid. I remember my challenge was to wake up when the alarm clock went off; it was so easy to snooze for 15 more minutes. I wasn’t always late, just sometimes. I had a lot of friends and I could easily pass the day socializing at school. My normal schedule was go to school, go to work, come home and do homework as late as I needed, for as long as I needed, wherever I wanted. And, my weekends were free for me.

Then I met my (ex) boyfriend and I was stupid enough to let him convince me to drop out of college so we could be rich with our own Internet business! What a crock! We didn’t get rich; far from it. I still don’t have a degree and I’m still not a millionaire (can you believe it?). Nowadays, I can’t find 15 minutes for Pilates, let alone, snooze with my alarm clock.

My new schedule is: wake up, eat breakfast, wake my son up, get us to the daycare before 8:00, go to class, study, pick him up at 4:15, feed him, bathe him, put him in bed by 8:00, and I usually fall asleep around midnight. Excluding weekends, I have about four and half hours a day, without my son (no unnecessary distractions – a collegiate parent’s dream).

However, in addition to being a full-time student; studying, doing homework and writing papers, my husband and I have a business, with very unpredictable and undependable income. Each week, I spend a few hours balancing the books and collecting late payments from delinquent clients. To make life even more interesting, we have a vacant house, out of state. That means we pay rent plus a few hundred dollars, two times a month, with one income. And, since I am not “working” I get to post and manage the ads and interview potential renters. Occasionally we drive four hours on the weekends to show the house to potential renters. We try to spend “family time” together on Sundays (which is also a great day to study).

So, once again, 12 years later, I’m a full-time student. This time, there is no turning back. Yes, I have many more challenges and responsibilities this time, I am so much more focused and determined, I will graduate and I will be a teacher very soon.

My word of advice to all students: stay focused, make a small sacrifice now that will pay off in the future.

This essay won the Nontraditional Student Week essay contest hosted by the office of Off-Campus Student Services.

Beth Silva is a freshman business education major.

November 2-6 is Nontraditional Student Week.

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