Nearly five years ago, I decided to go back to college to get my associates degree in criminal justice. One of the main reasons of me going back to college, I was tired of seeing people at my job getting promoted over me. Some of these people never worked in my field (security) and I was training them to be in positions over me. So one day, I decided to ask my supervisor why was people fresh off the street (new hires/with no experience) getting promoted over me?
My supervisor said, they were getting promoted over me because they had college degrees. That was the moment I decided to go back to college. But, that was not the only reason. The second reason was because returning to college to get my degree was on my long term list. The third reason was because in my nonprofit business, I encourage youth to go to college or to trade school. I always encourage youth to further their education because “knowledge is power and a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
One particular day, I was telling some of my male mentees to go to college and one of them said, what about you? I asked him what about me? He said, how can you tell us to go college and you never finished? That weighed heavy on my mind!! My last reason is because I wanted to set a good example for my four daughters.
When, I finally made my mind to go back to college, I said to myself that I have been out of college for many years. When, I go back, I am going to stay in for many years. I am going to finish my associates degree, get bachelor’s degree, my master’s degree, and my doctoral degree!! Associates, bachelor’s, and master’s are all done!! Last on the list is doctoral degree which I am hoping to check off the list.
I truly learned this saying is true, “there is nothing more powerful than a made up mind.” My mind has been made up on what I want to do.
In the last five years of my striving to obtain my degrees, I was married and my then wife who gave birth to my two youngest daughters, we end up separating, and eventually got divorced. My apartment caught on fire and I became homeless. It was times, I had to pawn my laptop and I had lost my laptop to the pawnshop and I had to buy a new one.
When I did not have a laptop, I had to go to the library to use the computer and most times, I had to do my assignments on my cellphone. But, no matter what, I found away and made it happen!! Why? Because there is nothing more powerful than a made up mind.
