I'm Done...... Now what!?

I'm done!  I've finished my Bachelor's of Science in Accounting with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC).  

My friend Brennan and I were able to walk on the same day - it was fun because we both graduated from the same program! 

Walking into the stadium, with the other graduates, I was grateful I decided to walk.  I was a little teary eyed, remembering all the reasons I had stopped going and all the reasons I started back up.  15 years ago I graduated high school and had my life planned out - go to college, get a degree in music and live happily ever after teaching people how music can influence a life.  That dream shattered when I found out I was going deaf in one ear and was told that I couldn't progress in the music program.  Blame it on my young dramatic self - but thought my life was over!  So, I had to leave Logan, moved to Salt Lake and tried to figure out what to do with my horridly plain life...  

Then one of the best jobs landed in my lap, Interior Solutions.  Interior Solutions is an office furniture business and I had the opportunity to move from receptionist to finance during my time there.  I loved my boss Larry, who showed me that I could have a future in accounting if I wanted.  So, I started taking classes at Salt Lake Community College. I enjoyed my beginning classes and talking about what I was learning with Larry and my co-worker Robert.  My years at Interior Solutions came to an end when I made the decision to move to the East Coast and work in a retirement community called Knollwood.  

I had put my schooling on hold again but knew that it was only temporary, so after living in Maryland for a while and applying to a few different schools.  I was able to start school again this time at UMUC, where classes were online and at night so I could still work while attending school.  I thought it would be easy, I missed going to school.  

The feeling of missing school quickly left as I got further along in the program.  Working full-time and going to school full-time is tough.  I felt like I wasn't really present when I was hanging out with my friends, sorry guys!  I was too worried about finishing papers, completing homework and finishing my discussion posts.  Then I had classes like Biology and Statistics which left in tears because the eight week course just wasn't enough to understand all of the material...  oh so many tears!  Thankfully, I had friends that are super smart and willingly spent HOURS helping me understand the material as well.  



This quote perfectly fits everything I've felt over the years:
 
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”
― Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

I love my numbers, I love my ten-key calculator, I feel like I'm in a career that brings me as much joy as I would have had in music!  So what's next??  I don't know right now.  I have thoughts of completing my masters degree and then getting my CPA, but for now I'll just enjoy a summer of no school!  :)

Women's Studies

I am nearing the end of my classes, next Spring is the finish line...  As I am finishing a few generals to get them out of the way I saw a Women's Studies class that sounded pretty interesting.  I must say that I am a tad disappointed.  I feel like it was a history class and not really pushing me to learn about laws and policies in place today for people like me.  Instead we discuss a lot of what happened and because of that we (women) have a stronger voice today.

I guess I might have enjoyed this class a little more face to face instead of online because I found that my views on certain topics are a pretty different from other women in the class.  Also, there are no men in this class - not surprising - but I would like to see what there perspective is on a couple of these topics. 

This week I brought up the subject of the Hobby Lobby ruling and found a lot of the class (we have about 35 women) didn't even know what I was talking about.  That was a little frustrating as you want to talk about current issues but no one is informed.  And if they just read a paragraph here or there they feel they are experts and go all raging feminist on you for simply asking questions or disagreeing with their arguments.

I did share the experience I had when job searching after moving to a new city and had an extremely uncomfortable interview.  It was me and the President of the company, he asked the usually interview questions and we chatted about how both of us had been to Australia.  He then proceeded to ask me my religion (red flag #1), if I was married or seriously dating anyone (red flag #2), if I got married was I planning on having children and leaving work (fireworks, all color flags raised, looking for an exit door).  I was completely shocked, I don't really remember how I answered but remember I said that my social life wouldn't interfere with my work.  I went back to the temp agency that I worked with and explained what happened, but it had already done it's damage. 

I obviously didn't get that job (THANK HEAVENS!!!).  But I won't ever forget how shocked I was to be asked something that had absolutely no bearing on my work performance at all and just because I was young and a woman.  So, I went and read about what is an appropriate way to handle situations like that and felt prepared if ever faced with those questions again. 

I believe everyone in some way has felt discriminated against or looked over because of gender, race, disability, etc. While we still have a long way to go, I can tell that the changes over the years are significant and if we keep teaching love and acceptance it will spread.  I don't think we will ever achieve world peace, but I believe that we are people that can start making the changes so it will benefit future generations. 

 

Become Informed...

Very rarely, will I share my feelings on politics in an open place with people that a) aren't family, b) aren't family and c) aren't family. 

But I couldn't keep my blog silent tonight.  The past few days, although it seems like years, I have been seeing post after post about the government and Obamacare wrecking our innocent lives.  I have seen posts on Facebook from friends that are saying how scared they are because of all these changes to insurance and increases in their taxes and also how secret government people are going to come to your house and do "home inspections" and etc., etc., blah, blah, blah....  The list goes on and on and on....

For example, I saw a friend post this article and state that she is nauseous over it.  I, of course, thought that in all of my reading and following different things happening here in D.C. I never heard this come up in any discussion on Obamacare and that definitely caused me to really question if that was true.  So, I did research.  Quick little search on Google pulled up an immediate response on Snopes that said the article was false.  And honestly, do you really think that something like random home health visits to people just because they smoke or are young parents would slip by unnoticed and not one person in the entire nation would pick up on that or say anything?  No...  If you said yes - shame on you! 
Just because we vote to place representatives in both State and Federal positions - doesn't mean we just cross our fingers and hope they do what they say they are going to do when we cast our vote.  AFTER the elections, it is as much our job to follow, educate ourselves and understand what is happening on both the state and federal level each day, as it is the representatives job to make sure that the needs of their state are being addressed.  

People hear the word "government" and think of it as a body of one.  Not as it actually is - hundreds of people...  People are the mouthpiece for their city, county, state, nation.  We mainly hear about the corrupt politicians on the news and I know they are there, but there are also good ones that are behind the scenes doing everything they can to make a difference.  I truly believe that every vote counts and if a person doesn't vote because they don't think their vote will matter - they have no right to complain if they don't like the way things are being handled.

I am tired of people just seeing something posted on Facebook or a website that isn't credible and believe it as truth.  We have the right to question, do research, write letters, create petitions, email, and/or call our representatives!  So, go and get informed!  Don't just sit back and see how it the new tax laws or health insurance premiums are going to affect you and your family!  Figure it out the old fashioned way with a pen, paper and calculator!  Stop being sheep and start asking questions, do the research and then if you want go ahead and state your opinions.  Because then and only then - will I tolerate your ramblings and opinions. 

Determined!!

This week I am doing a make up test for my Accounting class...  I am grateful for the chance to retake the test, but even more so that I am almost done with the class!!  This one has really tried my patience - and I am not talking about the subject!! 

I know I sound very, very nerdy when I talk about my love learn more about accounting principles and how they apply in my every day work.  I just love it!  So it is annoying that I feel like I am being gypped out of what can make me a better accountant/employee.

I am also very excited that this is almost March Madness time and I get to focus on my favorite sport!  It brings back so many memories of my early college days and the fun times I had at the college basketball games.  I am very excited! 

Things are good.  :)

Am I ready?? School?? Me???

Day 18 - Goals you have on your list.

One particular goal that has been on my mind a lot lately has been my goal of actually finishing school. A lot of my friends here are very surprised when they realize that I don't have a degree. Which is kinda nice that I come across as smart, right!? Ha!

But I have actually started the long process to go back to school and am looking forward to the homework and learning again. Not so much tests, I am a TERRIBLE test taker, my nerves are so bad that my mind blanks and I really struggle. But I am going to be a better student, because I have learned the importance of gaining an education through my work experiences. Yes, working has taught me how much further I can go in the world when I have a little piece of paper proving I went the extra mile.

So, University of Maryland, here I come!!