On Wednesday, I took the last exam to complete my BSBA – Organizational Management / Human Resources, and last month I finished the last FEMAs to finish an AAS – Environmental, Safety, & Security Technologies. I’m done! I’m D-O-N-E, done, done, DONE! It did not really hit me until yesterday that I did not have more papers to write, chapters to read, or preparation for tests. I’m…done!
From 1994 to 1995, I went to school for Pre-Med, but that did not work out; it was not the right career choice for me, and I am not cut out for that coursework. When I briefly went back to school in 2004 and 2005, I was thankfully able to transfer in those Pre-Med credits as Gen Ed credits, and started down the road of a Business degree after falling into the business world in an administrative position. And then life interrupted and I had to put on the brakes again, but I never forgot about a promise I made myself to someday finish a degree.
In July of last year, I started my first courses, but the ordeal with TESC’s Fin Aid department was so aggravating, I decided to finish all 51 credits needed to complete my BSBA in a year so I would never need to deal with them again. But due to some financial choices made, I was committed to 36 credits in courses, and knew the only way to add another 15 credits was through testing. I knew about CLEP, and a search turned up Degreeforum.net where news of DSSTs, ECEs, Penn Foster, and FEMA made the impossible seem quite doable.
In fact, it seemed so doable, I briefly lost my sanity and added a second major with plans to complete another 12 credits of UL courses (and it had to be mostly coursework because of the major). A more reasonable solution that still added the wanted versatile resume bullet point was the famous AAS forum members love so much, and it worked perfectly with my field. It took an extra three months to finish when some health issues came up, but as of Wednesday, I completed 63 credits in 15 months, with 33 in courses and the rest in testing, Penn Foster, and FEMA. Many others have done that and much more faster, but I am pretty darn proud of it without breaking stride at a full-time job, home with a special needs son, and volunteer time at the elementary school.
A lot of people were huge help along the way, and of course, my husband is first and foremost on the list with all the support, encouragement, and help he gave; my son’s needs could not be shuffled with his reliance on structure and habit, but my husband did the bulk of the cooking and cleaning for the past 15 months to lighten my load. Cookderosa and marianne202 seemed to drop suggestions or advice on others’ and my threads that motivated and gave helpful advice whenever it was needed. Rebel100’s suggestions were always spot on. And many, many others deserve thanks for questions that helped me as well, motivation to get off my rump or out of slumps, and a laugh when it was needed.
So…I’m done. And Degreeforum.net and its fantastic denizens are to thank for much of it. After 6 months to a year, I plan to start the graduate trek for a Masters, but for now, I am enjoying a relaxing weekend with the family, some time to get the health issue under control that was a slight speed bump, and get my career started on the road I want it to go. I’m DONE! For those still working at it…keep moving. In no time at all, I look forward to seeing your “done” post as well!
From 1994 to 1995, I went to school for Pre-Med, but that did not work out; it was not the right career choice for me, and I am not cut out for that coursework. When I briefly went back to school in 2004 and 2005, I was thankfully able to transfer in those Pre-Med credits as Gen Ed credits, and started down the road of a Business degree after falling into the business world in an administrative position. And then life interrupted and I had to put on the brakes again, but I never forgot about a promise I made myself to someday finish a degree.
In July of last year, I started my first courses, but the ordeal with TESC’s Fin Aid department was so aggravating, I decided to finish all 51 credits needed to complete my BSBA in a year so I would never need to deal with them again. But due to some financial choices made, I was committed to 36 credits in courses, and knew the only way to add another 15 credits was through testing. I knew about CLEP, and a search turned up Degreeforum.net where news of DSSTs, ECEs, Penn Foster, and FEMA made the impossible seem quite doable.
In fact, it seemed so doable, I briefly lost my sanity and added a second major with plans to complete another 12 credits of UL courses (and it had to be mostly coursework because of the major). A more reasonable solution that still added the wanted versatile resume bullet point was the famous AAS forum members love so much, and it worked perfectly with my field. It took an extra three months to finish when some health issues came up, but as of Wednesday, I completed 63 credits in 15 months, with 33 in courses and the rest in testing, Penn Foster, and FEMA. Many others have done that and much more faster, but I am pretty darn proud of it without breaking stride at a full-time job, home with a special needs son, and volunteer time at the elementary school.
A lot of people were huge help along the way, and of course, my husband is first and foremost on the list with all the support, encouragement, and help he gave; my son’s needs could not be shuffled with his reliance on structure and habit, but my husband did the bulk of the cooking and cleaning for the past 15 months to lighten my load. Cookderosa and marianne202 seemed to drop suggestions or advice on others’ and my threads that motivated and gave helpful advice whenever it was needed. Rebel100’s suggestions were always spot on. And many, many others deserve thanks for questions that helped me as well, motivation to get off my rump or out of slumps, and a laugh when it was needed.
So…I’m done. And Degreeforum.net and its fantastic denizens are to thank for much of it. After 6 months to a year, I plan to start the graduate trek for a Masters, but for now, I am enjoying a relaxing weekend with the family, some time to get the health issue under control that was a slight speed bump, and get my career started on the road I want it to go. I’m DONE! For those still working at it…keep moving. In no time at all, I look forward to seeing your “done” post as well!
BSBA, HR / Organizational Mgmt - Thomas Edison State College, December 2012
- TESC Chapter of Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business, Management and Administration
- Arnold Fletcher Award
AAS, Environmental, Safety, & Security Technologies - Thomas Edison State College, December 2012
AS, Business Administration - Thomas Edison State College, March 2012
- TESC Chapter of Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business, Management and Administration
- Arnold Fletcher Award
AAS, Environmental, Safety, & Security Technologies - Thomas Edison State College, December 2012
AS, Business Administration - Thomas Edison State College, March 2012
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