I DID IT!!! EC Grad Requirements Officially Complete!

[SuZQ2]

Hello All,

It’s been many, many months since my last post, as I vowed not to return to the forum until I reached what seemed to be The Impossible Dream – finally completing my Bachelor’s Degree at EC. Well…cue up the “Man of La Mancha” theme song, because I can now definitively say, “I’ve done it!” I successfully completed the much feared Capstone in October, and just received my official congratulatory graduation letter from EC - with my degree conferral set for December .

Five+ years ago, IC members took time out of their busy lives to evaluate my hodgepodge of college credits, answer my questions, and guide me toward a plethora of study resources and testing opportunities I never knew existed. The kind and generous folks here played an invaluable role in helping me move one step closer toward finally being able to check off a life-long goal – earning my Bachelor’s Degree. I want to thank Jennifer (cookderosa), rebel100, and every hero here at IC who offered me their unending knowledge and advice - words alone can never express my gratitude – without YOU I would not be posting this message today.

My 30-year educational odyssey began in the mid-1980s with a late night infomercial advertising John Bear’s Guide to Non-Traditional College Degrees. It changed my life. I was facing a host of family and health crises, had dropped in and out of CC four times, and saw no chance of completing a degree through the traditional B & M pathway. Bear’s book led me to USNY Regents, and in 1991 after a credit evaluation and two additional CC classes, I finally received my AA degree. Door closed/Job done.

However, 20 years later, I was still educationally unfulfilled, unhappy, and unsatisfied – not having a BA/BS degree constantly gnawed at me. Everyone in my immediate family/friend circle has multiple degrees, and I wanted the piece of paper – the proof that I too was “worthy” of a scholarly title. New Year’s Eve 2010 I found the golden ticket…an online forum called InstantCert dedicated to adult students seeking non-traditional degrees.

After posting here on IC, I could not wait to begin studying. As a perfectionist with a horrible fear of failure, I studied over 4 months in preparation for my first CLEP test – Intro to Psychology. Success led to success, and while my pace was incredibly slow, I continued to study, overcome obstacles, and test, test, test…A one-year detour into SL’s Comp I & II writing “boot camp” (courses I actually did not need but consider the best preparatory training for the EC Capstone), then back to testing. Testing completed in 2015, I then moved on to my biggest terror – the EC Capstone.

I worked for months on the LA 498 syllabus – I taught myself APA style, how to set up an APA paper on my computer, how to create a formal APA outline, and how to post notes to a Discussion board; then spent one month teaching myself PowerPoint via a fantastic “teacher” on YouTube. I preplanned ideas as set forth in the syllabus, and then when I thought I was ready, signed up.

Eight weeks and many 2:00AM nights later, success - an “A” for the Capstone course, and GRADUATION!!!! A true miracle!

Unfortunately, I have discovered one downside - I think I am addicted to studying! The second I was through with the Capstone I was in shock – no more studying??? I actually felt more lost than relieved…so we’ll see what the future holds as far as possibly continuing on…

On a final note - to those out there intimidated by the speed in which many here test and complete courses – do not be disheartened; you CAN achieve your dream! Like me, your pace may be slower, your journey may take years, not months, but with perseverance, it CAN HAPPEN!

December 16, 2016 - BSLA Magna Cum Laude - Excelsior College

eeya:
Suzanne