My First Entry - Starting school after 14 years!

According to Dictionary.com, a Phoenix is: a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years: often an emblem of immortality or of reborn idealism or hope.  For me, the symbol of the Phoenix is powerful because it tells the story of my life.  Whether by choice or not, I have had to reinvent myself many times throughout my life.  The reason behind the Phoenix is that through change, I’ve always tried to keep a positive outlook and make each experience count.  In this blog, I hope to share my experiences as a non-traditional student balancing motherhood, school & career.

Back in the 90’s I was a student at Rutgers University.  Due to personal issues beyond my control, I had to leave school one semester short of graduating.  I never obtained my degree and it became the thorn in my side for many years.  In between, I had various jobs, some I loved and some I tolerated with a smile.  In 2008 I was laid off after 7 years of service at a job that I once loved but towards the end noticed was changing and suffered the consequence of cutbacks that many of us are still experiencing.  I always meant to go back to school but there was always an obstacle… a promotion at work that required a lot of travel, the birth of my first born and a number of other “excuses.”  I did find a temporary job, but it ended after a year so in December of 2009, right before Christmas, I found myself 7 months pregnant and out of a job.  Initially it was a good thing.  I had my daughter in February and by May I was ready to go back to work.  The problem was that I searched and searched and probably went for the same jobs that thousands were applying for.  I’ve worked consistently since I was 14 years old and was never comfortable not working but now it was a question of necessity and being able to provide for my family. 

When I found that I wasn’t even getting any interviews I decided that now was the best time to go back to school.  With the help of my mother (who is truly a saint!), I started school in September of 2010 on the same day that my son started pre-school.  Fortunately he was in school when I was in school and my mother helped by caring for my infant daughter.  It’s a sacrifice not only for me but my family, however, it’s a sacrifice that will pay off tremendously and at least I know in my heart that I will be setting a great example for my kids.  Although I’m currently starting my last semester now, in my next blog post, I will recount my experiences going back to school after 14 years and getting through it all last semester.  Until then, I remain, The Phoenix Mom… rising from the ashes.