I am recently completing my bachelors degree and the journey has been hard.  I returned to school, when my son was two years old and my daughter was eleven.  My husband was being treated for cancer and the radiation treatments were taking a toll on him.  This made me realize that life is short and I need to follow my dreams.  I needed job security and a promising career, in order to care for my husband and children.

I had always dreamed of going back to college, but put it on the back burner after becoming a mom.  Education is extremely important to me and I wanted my children to have a great example of struggle and perseverance.  Although I knew it would be hard, I went back.
There were many times when I wanted to give up.  I would stay up all night after returning from work.  Many times, I wouldn’t sleep.  I needed to work, take care of my kids, care for my husband and home plus make it to my shifts at night.  Waking up in the morning to get my daughter off to school would prove to be difficult but hearing her tell me that she was proud made it all worth it.
Classes have been non-stop for four years straight with no summer vacations.  Writing twelve page research paper with my little boy hanging from my neck was nearly impossible.  There were nights when I was so tired, I would literally break down and cry.  I don’t think I would have made it without the support of my family and friends.  I just couldn’t let down all the people that believed in me.
My pschology degree and studies in child development and sociology will be used to help others.  I start teaching very soon and I plan to counsel troubled children and families.  Without an education, this wouldn’t be possible.  It is my responsibility to make a difference in this world and I know I can.
The point of this article is to inspire other parents out there.  If I can do it, anyone can.  Go back to school.  Reach for the stars.  Chase your dreams!  There is no limit to what you can do if you put your mind to it and your heart in it.  Don’t wait.  You deserve to reach your full potential and you can!

“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn… and change.” – Carl Rogers

Rhonda Gutierrez