07-06-2009, 03:07 PM
I was a star student in high school despite a strong streak of laziness. Silly me, I thought I could coast through college as well. Oops. I started off at the University of Pennsylvania, which is an excellent school but a poor fit for me. My mother died a month into my junior year, so I moved back home and transferred to the University of Maryland. I did better there, but had no clue of where I was headed. Meanwhile, I had discovered computers, and wound up leaving college to move into low-level geekery (this was 1986, so we're talking the days when DOS was still strong and a Commodore 128 was a top of the line gaming machine).
Fast forward a couple decades. I'd left tech support and made an accidental but fortunate move into an HR assistant position. After taking a seminar, I rediscovered my fascination with training design (having coordinated training sessions and designed training materials while in tech support). Great, now I have ideas on how to shape a career. I conducted some informal research in the company, talked with employees to get a sense of what they wanted in terms of employment development and learning opportunities, and started putting together some ideas. During my annual performance review, I presented a few of them to my boss; her reply boiled down to "that's great, but you're here to walk around paperwork." She wasn't that blunt or tactless, but it summed up how I felt in that department: you have no degree, so you will not be taken seriously. I'd seen the pattern, and was part of it.
I had already enrolled at Excelsior by that point, but was so tired from the work and long commute that I had yet to accumulate any credits. (there was a lot of walking in that job - and I mean taking a shuttle from one campus to the next and then making a 1.5 mile round-trip walk to deliver one piece of paper) I was tired and stressed and upset at the company and mad at myself. Then, in early September 2008, I landed an interview at another company for a training assistant position. I didn't get the job, alas, but it really opened my eyes. I gave my two week notice and left my secure but soul-draining job in order to focus on finishing the undergrad degree.
Forward a couple more months, and I'm prepping to take the English Lit GRE. I also have a much less stressful job. A search brought me to InstantCert, which brought me to this forum. My signature tells the rest of the tale.
Thank you, thank you, everyone who has posted their experiences to this forum! I never could have done so much so quickly if it weren't for your help and inspiration!
Once EC has processed my final scores and finalized the transcript, I'll be applying to MS programs in instructional design as the next step towards a career in CBT and e-learning development.
Now I need a nap. :p
Fast forward a couple decades. I'd left tech support and made an accidental but fortunate move into an HR assistant position. After taking a seminar, I rediscovered my fascination with training design (having coordinated training sessions and designed training materials while in tech support). Great, now I have ideas on how to shape a career. I conducted some informal research in the company, talked with employees to get a sense of what they wanted in terms of employment development and learning opportunities, and started putting together some ideas. During my annual performance review, I presented a few of them to my boss; her reply boiled down to "that's great, but you're here to walk around paperwork." She wasn't that blunt or tactless, but it summed up how I felt in that department: you have no degree, so you will not be taken seriously. I'd seen the pattern, and was part of it.
I had already enrolled at Excelsior by that point, but was so tired from the work and long commute that I had yet to accumulate any credits. (there was a lot of walking in that job - and I mean taking a shuttle from one campus to the next and then making a 1.5 mile round-trip walk to deliver one piece of paper) I was tired and stressed and upset at the company and mad at myself. Then, in early September 2008, I landed an interview at another company for a training assistant position. I didn't get the job, alas, but it really opened my eyes. I gave my two week notice and left my secure but soul-draining job in order to focus on finishing the undergrad degree.
Forward a couple more months, and I'm prepping to take the English Lit GRE. I also have a much less stressful job. A search brought me to InstantCert, which brought me to this forum. My signature tells the rest of the tale.
Thank you, thank you, everyone who has posted their experiences to this forum! I never could have done so much so quickly if it weren't for your help and inspiration!
Once EC has processed my final scores and finalized the transcript, I'll be applying to MS programs in instructional design as the next step towards a career in CBT and e-learning development.
Now I need a nap. :p
[COLOR="DarkGreen"][SIZE="2"]
BSLS Excelsior College, conferred 9-09
started MS in Instructional Design program, Spring 2010
April 4 2009 through July 6 2009: 1 GRE subject exam + 1 Penn Foster credit + 11 DANTES exams = 61 credits. Average per-credit cost = $23.44.
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." (Maria Robinson)[/SIZE][/COLOR]
BSLS Excelsior College, conferred 9-09
started MS in Instructional Design program, Spring 2010
April 4 2009 through July 6 2009: 1 GRE subject exam + 1 Penn Foster credit + 11 DANTES exams = 61 credits. Average per-credit cost = $23.44.
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." (Maria Robinson)[/SIZE][/COLOR]
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