Oh, how the Tables have Turned...

Well, the time has come, I have decided to go back to school. I guess one master's degree is not enough.

Let me back up and tell the 'lore' (history for anyone over 13 reading this) as my oldest would say, my first degree was a bachelor's degree in psychology, and I was on the ten-year plan. I had these visions of sitting on the couch and asking my clients "well how does that make you feel?" "Did you complete the homework I gave you last week, to journal out three to five reasons why you have unresolved issues with your father?" and "Yes, your feelings are valid, and you are worthy." However, due to the Coast Guard, motherhood and moving I quickly decided that yes, I was going to finish my bachelor's degree but work in a different field of psychology. I already listened to everyone's problems on watch, random strangers would open up to me and just because I am an exceptional listener does not mean I would have the patience for my advice to be taken some of the time. I could see burn out in the future.

Even though I could see burn-out, I decided when I found out I was about eight weeks pregnant with my youngest the ten-year plan was about to end. A degree in psychology was a degree in a subject I love (still do) but the vision was different and six classes the rest of my pregnancy my mind was set, an upper-level education was within reach, and I was going to grab it, even with pregnancy brain and gaining 50 pounds.

The race was on, baby and degree at the same time. I love to make things difficult, but like I just told my husband when I make a plan and set out to do something I go full force like a storm coming in, nothing is going to stop me. My capstone course was set to end in November of 2014, my youngest due date October 30, 2014; the first week of October I emailed my professor that I was about to pop and here were my final assignments. Which was a great thing because the little turd decided to make her appearance early on October 27, 2014.

Happy and ecstatic that I accomplished such a big goal with pregnancy brain about year after my youngest was born I felt off, something was missing...I wonder what it could be? More School, my capstone class at AMU had us research possible psychology careers and the one that piqued my interests the most was Industrial Organizational Psychology, when she turned one, I decided to get my masters in I/O psychology. I am lucky I had night watches, and she did not sleep much because I completed the degree with a 3.98 (thank you motivation in the workplace), with the last two courses completed from a hospital bed in Miami (that is a blog post for a different time) but due to sickness, life and moving yet again the focus was not on jobs I could do and see myself happy in. I feel as though an I/O psychologist is unicorn, yes there are jobs out there that do exist but getting the metaphorical horn in the door is impossible if a person is working a full-time job in the military.

So, I stumbled into teaching once I was medically retired from the military. A year ago, I was getting onto 10 graders in Texas to annotate their texts, think critically, and yes you can write a full four paragraph essay Lil Johnny. Now though, I am the student working for my MFA in Creative Writing. I am annotating the text, reading the articles, engaging with my peers on discussion board posts and slightly freaking out. I know I shouldn't be, I did this pregnant and sick twice, while raising two little kids, working full time and moving.

I honestly think a little anxiety and stress is good though, anxiety and stress can push a person to do better, grow and accomplish goals they did not think were possible. I also to have to remind myself it is only the first week, by week three and four my routine will be set. By the end of the program at SNHU, I will have a novel, taking it one course at a time, one step at a time. Like my momma always tells you don't eat a whole elephant at once.

We are all students of life, always learning, but oh how the tables have turned. It is my turn again in the student's seat, to get my MFA in creative writing and become a published author, screenwriter and make a career out of my passion--writing and most of all telling stories.

Until next week, this has been another adventure in LaLa Land.

LaLa

***Shout out to the Jonas Brothers, I am in 'Chains' for learning****