Author: Jamie Dunlap

How to Create a To-Do List

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Life can get hectic. When there is so much to do, it’s easy to accidentally fall behind and miss an appointment or neglect goals. No one ever intends for this to happen. It’s the result of an unorganized mind.

How frequently do you have to stop what you’re doing to check if you have the ingredients necessary for dinner? Do you go back to read the assignment over and over before turning in a project? Was it 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM that your work shift starts on Tuesday?

A To-Do list is a great way to get organized. If you take the time to get all your tasks written down and scheduled in, you’ll be more likely to follow through and accomplish more. And more efficiently, too!

There is absolutely a right way and a wrong way to create a To-Do list. Essentially, the right way is the way that works best for you. The wrong way will lead you to work more on keeping up with the list and less on actually doing tasks.

What I am about to present is the way that works best for me. I think my way is inclusive and detailed enough to work for many. You might agree. Or you might need to change a few elements. I encourage you to look around on other websites and find out what works for other people and create a method that works for you. Because what really matters is your success.

Write Everything Down

I know I discouraged this behavior in my previous post, Downsides of the To-Do List. That’s because this long list is intimidating and overwhelming. I use it regularly now because I figured out how to break it down in ways that are less scary.

Don’t hold back on this list. If it’s something you need to do, then write it down, even if you’ve already made a habit out of the task. Include assignments, chores, appointments, and anything else you can think of. This is also a great opportunity to find ways to break down big projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.

Three Lists

That long, all consuming list needs to be sorted through and made less daunting. Every item on your list will fall into one of three categories.

  • Every day, repeated
  • Today
  • This week

I found the first category to be the easiest to fill. My every day list includes studying, feeding the fish, and washing dishes. You probably already know what you need to do every day, too. It’s a good opportunity to add to that list something that you don’t do every day but would like to create the habit, like journaling or meditating.

If something is on your list and it doesn’t fall into one of those three categories, it’s likely that it’s too large. For example, you might have written “buy a couch” on your list. Before you can do that you need to look at your budget, measure the space, and browse various styles.

Yes, you can use the last category to place tasks you’re unsure of yet. If it isn’t time sensitive or high priority, but you want to keep it in mind, put it in the “This week” list and return to it later.

Time Sensitive Tasks

This part of organizing the big list is fairly easy. Plug in due dates for assignments and times for appointments. Remember to schedule in time to work on the assignments and leave yourself travel time for appointments.

At this point you’ll be looking to fill in gaps with appropriate projects. Maybe you have a big project you need to work on over the course of several days, or want to schedule in time for laundry. This is your opportunity to design your day the way you want it to be. Isn’t being in control nice?

Two Lists, One Day

You probably noticed that you created two lists to work from on a given day. This is deliberate. Your “every day, repeated” list won’t change from day to day, but your “today” list will be different each time you make one.

I set my pattern up so that I wouldn’t have to write the same tasks over and over, day after day. It saves me a little time and worry. This lets me focus on specific tasks on specific days.

If following two lists isn’t for you, then write them down together on one. Remember, the whole point of incorporating this habit into your life is for your personal improvement. Always be honest with yourself and create environments which will help you be successful.

Whether you work from two lists or one, there shouldn’t be more tasks there than you can reasonably complete in a day. Making the To-Do list is the easy part. Completing tasks takes time. If it looks too long, focus on your priorities and find something less important to move back over to the “This week” list.

Execute

You did all the prep work. Now it’s time to go about your day. Complete that list!

Consult your list or lists throughout your day. This will help you stay on track. And don’t forget to cross tasks off as you complete them. It’s oh, so satisfying!

Reflect

At the end of the day, you will be left with one of two things. Either you will have a completed list or an incomplete list.

If you knocked off all of your tasks, go you! Celebrate! Crack open a cold one! Allow yourself to relax!

If you have an incomplete list, then this is a good time to reflect. What is left over? Why wasn’t it done? Did you over-schedule yourself? Do the leftover items reflect your priorities and goals?

It takes time to get used to working with a daily To-Do list. It’s up to you to remember to work on the tasks that are aligned with your goals and to allow trivial items to fall away when necessary. With practice, you can learn to use To-Do lists to get ahead and accomplish more.

Good luck putting yours together! Leave comments. Let me know how you use to To-Do lists. Ask me questions if I wasn’t clear on any section. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Downsides of the To-Do List

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Before I dive into this post, I want to point out that I wholeheartedly do advocate the use of To-Do lists. My experiences with using them have been incredibly positive. My life became more organized. I’ve been able to accomplish more tasks which will eventually lead me to reach my goals.

There are two reasons why I wanted to do a post featuring the downsides of To-Do lists, despite my feelings towards them. The first is that the early days of my adopting this process were incredibly difficult. I gave up many times. This is my opportunity to discuss what went wrong and why it was detrimental to my progress. The second reason I want to write about the downsides is that not everyone will benefit from this practice. If you know yourself well, then exploring the downsides may save you a lot of time and grief.

Here are three major downsides to using To-Do lists. These are problems that I experienced while figuring out how to incorporate using To-Do lists in my daily life. I’ll also include the ways I was able to get around them.

Too Much Stuff

You may be considering adopting the regular use of To-Do lists because you have a lot going on and feel like it needs to be organized. That is great initiative. Go you! So you buy a notebook or download an app and fill in every single task that needs to be done. You even sit back and think through every aspect of your day, add in chores you nearly forgot, and double check that everything is there.

Yikes! That’s a long list!

This practice makes it easy to feel like you’ll never get it all done. There’s simply too much for one person to ever do. You might start tackling one item at a time, but eventually you’ll either fail or give up before you get a chance to fail.

When I got started with keeping a To-Do list, a long list like that was a quick way to guarantee that I’d grab a drink and play games on my phone for two hours. Because if failure is inevitable then why even start?

Though I later found a way to incorporate the long list of everything, I had to eliminate it in the early stages. Getting away from feeling defeated before you even start can be solved by one quick fix.

Don’t write it all down!

Start off by creating lists designed for one day at a time. Only write down the tasks you absolutely must accomplish. If there is time left over in the day to do more, great! Add it on when you have time. But start with a short, reasonable list.

No Prioritization of Tasks

When everything is listed together in one line, there is no discerning between what is important and what is trivial. They all receive the same weight when there is no differentiation from one task to another.

Do you ever give laundering socks the same amount of attention as working on an essay for a class? Is putting the clean dishes away equally as important as remembering to go to a doctor’s appointment?

When we give everything equal value visually, we struggle to complete the tasks that should be given a higher priority. You need to be the one who decides what priority a task has. Maybe you base this on your goals and values. Or maybe some tasks on your list are time sensitive. Then it’s up to you to act on completing tasks that rank higher for you.

I was able to accomplish this by putting my tasks with highest priority on a separate list. I call it my Dailies. These tasks are the ones that will eventually lead to bigger things. For example, my Dailies includes journaling, homework, and essential chores. I designed it so that it doesn’t take up my entire day, leaving me an opportunity to work in other tasks that need to be done, too.

You may want to try my method. Or you may want to try color coding your tasks. Or maybe you’ll have better luck by blocking off tasks on a calendar, giving stronger visual cues to tasks.

Whatever it takes, make sure your priorities come first. No matter how satisfying it is to cross a trivial task off your list.

Leftovers Leave You Feeling Guilty

Seeing a bunch of tasks still listed at the end of the day is painful. It’s easy to beat yourself up when not everything gets done. You might feel inadequate. You might feel like a failure.

Much like listing too many tasks, this is a common place to want to quit. I know I quit a few times because the leftovers drove me insane. It happened to me often enough that I tried to figure out why it kept repeating.

Sometimes it was because I overscheduled myself. You need to remember when creating your To-Do list that the tasks take time. Be honest about how much time they will take. Give yourself some flexibility between tasks.

Other times I had items left on my To-Do list because I was being inflexible. Surprises happen. Emergencies happen. Life can take you away from your day. When this happens, you need to learn how to let go. You don’t have control over everything, and you never will. To-Do lists can make you feel like you’re in control, but that will not always be the case.

If you’ve experienced any downsides with your To-Do list, leave a comment! I’d love to get a discussion going about problems with this habit and how we can solve them.

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Benefits of a To-Do List

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I’m a huge fan of To-Do lists. I meticulously write them out and design my day with enthusiasm. Admittedly, I’m biased about the topic, but I think a To-Do list may be able to help you as well.

I adopted this habit slowly and with some reluctance. But I work two jobs, take classes online as a nontraditional student, blog, and maintain the house. It eventually got to a point where the To-Do list was no longer an option, but a necessity.

This article on benefits comes entirely from my personal experience. I hope you are able to find a way to take what I’ve learned and adopt it in a way that it works for you, too.

Visualize the Day

The To-Do list is a visual experience. It helps you to see everything that needs to be done. Once it’s all there in front of you, it’s easier to plan out your day in a way to accomplish everything that needs to be done in the most effective way possible.

Small Victories

If you designed your To-Do list well, you’ll be able to track your progress throughout the day. This is especially true if you’re working one step at a time on a bigger project like writing a book or researching for a large school project.

Plus it just feels so damn satisfying to cross out a task when it’s done.

Nothing Gets Forgotten

With a To-Do list nearby, nothing will sneak up on you. Everything is already considered. There is already a plan in place to take care of it. There is no excuse to not be prepared.

Even Leftovers Provide a Benefit

It’s easy to feel bad about having un-crossed tasks on your list at the end of the day. They make you feel like you aren’t good enough or that you didn’t try hard enough.

Really, there are a lot of reasons why those tasks went undone. It’s up to you to not get down on yourself. Be proactive and assess the leftover tasks.

  • Did you over schedule yourself?
  • Are you deliberately avoiding those tasks? Why?
  • Do the leftover tasks not represent your priorities?
  • Did you not have the tools you needed to complete the tasks?

As you can see, getting down on yourself for not finishing a list is premature without some type of assessment. Of course, if nothing on that list applies to you and the list didn’t get done because you ate potato chips and watched TV, then, maybe, yeah you should feel a little guilty. That guilt may be good so you don’t create a habit of not getting done what needs to be done.

This post is the first in a mini-series about To-Do lists. Next week, I’ll talk about the downsides of To-Do lists that I’ve discovered while using them. After that, I’ll share my discovery of an effective way of creating a To-Do list that works every time.

If you’re an enthusiast of To-Do lists, leave a comment at the bottom. I’d love to hear about the benefits you’ve discovered from using them!

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The Cost of School

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We all know higher education in the United States is expensive. Tuition rates are rising fast. We see this information all over the news because national student loan debt, which the Federal Reserve declared to be over $1.3 trillion last year, may be holding back economic growth.

Student loans can hold the individual back, too. This article from Forbes summarizes a survey that found many people have pushed back decisions to marry or have children because of student loan debt.

I’m a huge proponent of going back to school. I value education and the experience of learning. I also believe that everyone needs to be aware of the numbers. This could be you, if you decide to put thousands of dollars towards a degree.

Nontraditional students have the benefit of experience when it comes to considering the cost of school. After a few years of experiencing the real world and being in the workforce, those statistics mean something. A nontraditional student won’t be as gung-ho about signing documents for student loans they don’t understand.

Here’s a few questions to think about while you’re considering the cost involved in going back to university.

How much can I afford right now?

Tuition is only one factor. Don’t forget to work in the price of books, supplies, and tutors (if you need them). Many schools also have a long list of fees to cover extras like parking, library use, and payment processing. This is all relevant to how much you’ll be paying.

Take a close look at your budget. How much is available every month to go towards tuition? How much can be taken out of savings to pay for school? What can be sacrificed from my budget to open up more money to put towards school.

Don’t feel bad if you don’t have a lot of wiggle room in your current budget. After all, one of the reasons you’re considering getting a degree is to increase your income. But it still needs to be the first place you check because you’ll want to know what resources you have available before you start thinking about the next question.

How much am I willing to take out in loans?

The answer to this question is heavily dependent on your risk tolerance. How much debt you’re willing to get into is very personal. It will vary from one person to the next, so don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself about your risk tolerance and don’t base your answer on someone else’s.

Get to know the current interest rates. They’re easy to look up, and you’ll also see them when you fill out your FAFSA. They vary a little from year to year, and it also depends on the type of degree you’re studying for.

Other budget restrictions may come into play, here. You may have already maxed out loans from a previous school. Or maybe you can’t take on new lines of credit because you’re watching your credit score. Like I said before, this question is very personal.

What will my degree be worth?

With this question, I intend for you to ask yourself how much money you plan on making in a new career field after you get your degree. The emotional value of school is important, but not fitting for a blog post about money concerns.

Average incomes from varying jobs can easily be googled. Try typing in several titles from a related field to see what’s possible for you with your degree. Check the website from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to see what opportunities in your field will be available over the next few years. This research should give you a decent idea of what kind of income to expect, though it may take a few years of getting experience to get there.

The information you find from that research may make you go back and change your answers to the first two questions. That’s a good thing. You should be asking yourself these questions regularly, both before starting school and after you’ve enrolled. Regularly checking in with yourself will help you stay on track, financially.

These questions are good focus points both before committing to school and after. They should be part of the process of choosing a school.

Making the decision to go back to school should be carefully weighed. Being a nontraditional student, while incredibly rewarding, is also incredibly difficult. Doing this work now will save you time and energy later so you can focus on your studies.

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Financial Wellness Check

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I remember the first time I heard of this concept. It was last year during Financial Literacy Month, which occurs every year during April. My SO, Brian, and I combined our finances a few months prior to that, and I was put in charge of budgeting and allocating funds for savings.

Honestly, I thought we were doing fine. A little was getting saved every month and all of our bills were getting paid. But I knew we were in debt, too. Both of us had school loans and car loans, I had a signature loan and was considering going back to school at the time (which I did!), and we were working on getting our credit up. Why not do a wellness check? How bad can it be?

What is a financial wellness check?

A financial wellness check takes into account all the various elements of your finances and allows you to see the big picture. You have to calculate how much money is coming in every month. You have to know what every monthly bill is (or estimate for varying amounts like gas or electric). You have to pull up receipts and credit card and debit card transactions to find out where the extra money is going. How much interest are you paying on your debts? How much of that income was saved? How much of that income was invested?

Finally, it also requires you to determine your net value. I did this for Brian and me combined since all of our finances are combined anyway. In simplest words, net worth is the difference between your debt and the value of your assets. Assets aren’t just stocks and bonds. They can also be artwork, jewelry, technology, or anything else valuable that you could sell.

Why is all that so scary?

I don’t have a reference, but I remember reading an article around the same time I was doing this that said people don’t want to face their debt. It’s no secret that the United States is in a debt crisis due to the build up of credit card debt and student loans. When that debt gets to the point that it’s crippling your way of life, sometimes it feels better to bury your head in the sand and tell yourself you’ll face it tomorrow.

Unfortunately, that’s not how problems get solved. Problems don’t just go away when ignored. Financial problems in particular have a nasty habit of building up and getting worse if left unaddressed.

It started getting scary for me, too, the further I got along. While I had an idea of what each debt was, I had never seen the number of them all together before. Worse, I had never seen the total of how much we were spending on interest. I knew that we didn’t have enough saved away to deal with an emergency, but the big picture made me realize we wouldn’t have been able to cope with it at all.

Why would anyone put themselves through this?

Because you can’t not put yourself through this.

My financial wellness check had several benefits for me. I had a lot to fix and I had to prioritize how I was going to fix it. Obviously, most of the debts would be taken care of with time. Many of the other problems didn’t have an obvious solution.

I decided to make it a priority to get an emergency savings fund together. We decided on a number that we were comfortable with and set up a plan to get there. We had two financial emergencies between November and December. We were prepared. They were taken care of and we were able to move on with our lives without taking on more debt.

We’re working on getting it back to where it was. Until then, I’m still sticking with the values I learned about myself by doing that financial wellness check.

If I truly value my time and my skills, and I’m willing to go to work and have someone pay me for that time and skill-set, then I damn well be sure I’m valuing the money I earn from it. Because that money provides my lifestyle. Because that money provides my security. Because my cocker spaniels are really happy when I’m responsible enough with my money so I can spare a few extra dollars for treats and bully sticks.

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Traditional School Vs. Online School

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If you’re considering going back to school after having been away for a while, there is a lot to think about. One of those considerations needs to be on the type of school you’ll be applying to. I want to focus on the two main different types of school — traditional and online. When I say traditional school, I mean a brick and mortar building that you go into to study face to face with a professor and other students. Online schools are those where every aspect of your education is done digitally, from reading assignments to exams.

It’s worth noting that many traditional schools have online elements included. They still require that the student does most of their education in the building in a traditional classroom.

Both types of institutions will get you an education. They will not be the same education. Each will require different skills, and you, as a student, will learn through a different set of rules.

I’m here to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you decide which one is better for your learning style and your lifestyle.

Traditional School Advantages

In a physical classroom, you are dedicated to one task and that one task alone. There are fewer distractions because you have no TV, spouse, or kids. If you’re feeling frisky you can even turn your cell phone off.

The learning experience is more dynamic. The professor is there giving you clear instructions with both verbal and nonverbal cues. The class is giving him feedback which can help him adjust his teaching style on the fly to better suit the needs of the students. Everyone is working together in real time to accomplish a goal.

Your peers are in there learning with you. You can exchange notes with your neighbor or giggle over a joke. The socializing is valuable because, remember, these are the people you can network with later for a job.

Traditional School Disadvantages

The dedicated time in a classroom is also dedicated time that you have to work into your regular schedule. There is no flexibility. Don’t forget to work in travel time, too.

Not all of the other students in the class will be sharing notes and networking. Some of them will be disruptive to your learning. Different people have different goals, and if the class doesn’t reflect their goals, then neither will their attitude.

One last consideration for traditional schools is that they are incredibly expensive. Savings funds can dry out quickly and loans can pile up faster than some people can keep track of. The cost of school is no joking matter.

Online School Advantages

When you enroll in an online dedicated university, you are in complete control of your time. You still have due dates, but how you get the work done up to those due dates is on you. It’s easier to squeeze in a little studying here and there around a busy schedule.

Online schools are full of opportunities. More degree options are being offered online, even from major institutions you never thought you would have access to. Speaking of access, online may be the best option if you live in a community with few or no traditional universities nearby.

The skills you get from those online school opportunities are just as valuable as the degree. Changing technology and globalization means it’s more important for workers to understand how to communicate and effectively work online. I’d say getting a degree is a good demonstration to future employers that you know how to navigate that terrain!

Affordability is the last point I want to make as an advantage of online universities. The school doesn’t have to worry about electricity bills and janitorial staff and parking lots for an entire campus. The lower cost of running the organization is transferred back to the student. An online degree costs the student a fraction of one from a traditional school.

Online School Disadvantages

Self motivation is a bitch! Some days it will seem impossible to sit down at the computer and convince yourself to study when there is no one there to tell you to not put it off until tomorrow. At least in a classroom environment, if you’ve gone through all the effort to get there you might as well actually learn something.

And learning something from an online school isn’t the easiest way to go. Sometimes you’ll get instructions from a professor that are less than clear. Sure, you can shoot your professor an email and she’ll probably get back to you in a very reasonable amount of time, but what do you do while you wait for the response?

Non-immediate feedback puts you at risk of wasting time. As a nontraditional student, you don’t have a lot of time to waste. You need to be able to make decisions and keep going despite any doubts or concerns. If that type of uncertainty is difficult for you, then it will be a big disadvantage while you’re considering an online university as an option.

I hope I was able to give a well enough rounded evaluation of the two main types of schools in the context of a blog post. My goal was to give enough varied examples for someone considering returning to school as a nontraditional student to be able to critically assess each and make a decision based on their own strengths, weaknesses, and situation.

Leave a comment and let’s start a discussion about what concerns you have about becoming a nontraditional student.

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Things To Do Before You Return To School

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If you are considering going back to school or have already decided that’s something you’re going to do, then I have something to tell you. Your life will be turned upside down and sideways. Even part time school will throw your whole day-to-day out of whack.

Of course you already know that. Non-traditional students are frequently making sacrifices so they can fit what they need into a daily schedule. Being prepared for that to happen, though, is the difference between getting jostled about and completely knocked off your feet.

I put together a list of five things to do before returning to school. Some of this I did and some I wish I did. If you’re planning on going back, this list is sure to set you up for success no matter what major you choose.

Track Your Time

This is something you’ll want to do for a few weeks. Don’t change anything, but keep an eye out for a few things. Where is your spare time? Where are you wasting time? What happens regularly or what is something that you do that is non-negotiable?

It helps to have an idea of how much time you have and where you have it before returning to school. This is the time you’ll be using to get your degree. If you have a lot of it, great! You’ll have an easy time scheduling in your studying and researching. If you find that you don’t have a lot of spare time, you’ll have to get ready to make some sacrifices. What on your schedule can go? Are there smaller chunks of time you could work smarter with?

Check Your Finances

Everyone is aware that college is expensive. Finance blogs are spilling over with advice on how to cope with student loans. Tuition isn’t the only expensive part about school. Fees pile up fast. Plus you have to be ready to pay for books, files, DVDs, notebooks, and other supplies.

How much of that can you afford out of pocket? Do you have savings that you can tap into?

Most people won’t have a lot to dedicate to those things. I’m sure one of the reasons you’re considering taking the leap back into higher learning is so that you CAN have that kind of extra money some day.

It’s okay if you don’t have a lot to put towards that right now. That is what loans are for, anyway. But don’t just take out as many loans as you can for the sake of taking them out. Be calculated about it. How much in loans are you willing to take out?

Brush Up On Basics

It’s probably been a while since you had to do the formal education thing. Non-traditional students come in all shapes and sizes, but the one thing that they do have in common is that there was a break in schooling.

There’s a lot you forgot since high school. Take some time before registering for classes to go over some basic grammar lessons. Find a website or listen to a podcast during your commute. It might also be worth your time to review math and reading comprehension.

Also, note-taking skills will be unbearably valuable, especially if you plan on doing online school. When you get your degree online, there isn’t someone sitting next to you to lend out notes. You only have yourself. While we’re on this line of thinking, review proper researching skills as well.

Understand Your Degree And What You Need To Do To Finish

If you haven’t applied to a college or university yet, their website should give you an idea of this. Otherwise, this information will be available to you after you applied, got accepted, and transferred your credits.

First, you need to know exactly what is required to obtain the degree. How many credits do you need? What classes are required? Is there an order they must be done in? What types of classes fulfill generic requirements (like when the degree says “15 science credits” or similar).

Second, transfer in every credit you have from another university. Online schools are particularly generous when it comes to accepting transferred credit. Don’t sacrifice any credits earned just because you’re not proud of your GPA or you think you could do better a second time around. Those credits cost money!

Last, call an advisor. Specifically, get in touch with an academic advisor who has worked with a non-traditional student before. Non-traditional students do not have the same needs or concerns as traditional students, so it’s important that you find someone who knows how to tailor a schedule to fit your needs and fast-track you to graduation.

Come Up With A Plan “B”

Be ready for emergencies. Maybe you have kids you need to plan around. Kids get sick. Maybe you have older parents that are in your care. What if your spouse gets laid off?

Many of these concerns and questions are probably already planned for in some way in your life. Just be ready to work school into that emergency plan. If you’re serious about returning to school, then it needs to be incorporated in your life and made a priority.

This all may seem like a lot. It should be. Applying to school and becoming a non-traditional student is a big choice. It’s not glamorous. You’ll frequently be stressed out and tired.

Taking a few steps and doing some work early on will make subsequent decisions easier. Schedules will fall into place a little better. You need to put in the extra work to ensure your success and your degree.

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Why I Chose to Go Back to School

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In July of 2018, I made the decision to return to school and finish my degree. A few months after, I found out that the politically correct term for my status is “non-traditional student.” Adult-learner fell out of fashion, I guess.

Even though it was something I wanted to do for many years, it required a lot of consideration. Anyone past the traditional age for university knows that it’s a complicated matter. I have more responsibilities now than I did a decade ago. I have different ideas of what I want my life to look like than I did a decade ago.

While there were many reasons why I could have said “No!” to a few difficult years, ultimately there were three things on my mind that pushed me to say “Yes!”

Education Will Get You Through The Door

I’m a reasonably intelligent person (if I may say so myself), but it’s hard to convince a hiring manager of that without helpful credentials on a resume. The work experience I had didn’t seem to be enough, and more experience was getting harder and harder to acquire. Especially since my peers all had a college degree.

That degree for those who have it is proof to a hiring manager that they have acquired knowledge and proved an ability to commit and follow through.

Once I put on my resume that I am currently a student, I had the courage to start applying for jobs outside of the service industry. It worked. I was able to get a decent role. I got the job because I was able to prove that my value will gradually increase. While the job isn’t quite in my field, it does have a lot of crossovers into what I want to do, which will provide me with valuable, transferable skills.

I Value Education

I always have. I always did well in school. It was always important. In fact, when I stepped away from formal education nearly a decade ago, it was due to circumstance, not choice.

During the years between then and now, I spent most of my energy getting myself to a point where I could go back to school. It was a driving force behind my daily decisions and efforts. It took many years, but last year I was finally in a healthy mental and financial position where I could consider it.

Knowing that I did all that work to get to that point was a very good push in the school direction. If I value education as much as I say I do, then it’s time to practice what I preach.

I Wanted A More Comfortable Life

Maybe this last one is a little selfish, but what decision-making conflict doesn’t have at least some selfish elements?

By no means are my SO and I doing poorly. We’re not wealthy, but we pay our bills with a little to spare. We’re some of the lucky ones, I know.

But if he and I were able to make it this far, then it would be a shame to stop and call it “good enough.” I want a degree to get me into an interview so I can move up the ladder. I want an opportunity to define success for myself. I want the freedom to change my mind later about that success definition, if that’s something I decide to do. Money may not be everything, but it sure does make everything else easier.

I’m still young and I have the ability to try to do better for myself. There’s only one life to live, so I need to remember to do everything I can do while I have the means to do so. Going back to school was an important goal of mine, and I’m proud of myself for deciding to sign up for a few classes last summer.

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