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Feature Story | Tell us your story! |
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 BackBelieve in Yourself I had the time of my life...and then reality set in. Divorced at 23, with two tiny baby boys, I knew that my office jobs would never be enough to always make the ends meet. I waited several years, until 1997, and finally had enough courage to park my car on campus and walk into the administration department. That was it, and the ball was rolling. I didn't see anyway out of this decision now (but trust me, I looked). I always knew that I wanted, needed and desired an education, but was too wrapped up in myself and my friends to achieve that goal. Thank God for my children, as they changed that in me. First day of classes...wow! What an experience, and everyone was so much younger than I was...can I really do this? I often wondered how I could take 12 hours – work, raise two children, run a household and mentally survive life. I soon found out just how good at all this I was. Through the encouragement of the Non-Traditional Students office at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (thanks Sandra), I began to build great confidence in myself. I began working harder, making grades to be envied. I started involving myself more in campus life, and ran for President of an honors society (yes, I won!)...I began to reach out to other non-traditional students, making sure to mentor and advise as many as I could. I made it....May 12, 2001, I walked across that stage in tears to receive my diploma, and there...at the end...were my two boys...smiling and so proud of their mom – I cried. Today is another wonderful day in the life of being a college student. I am now a graduate student in the MPA program and I am still just as excited about being in college as I was that first day. If I have one thing to share (perhaps two) with other students, it is this: 1. Please, please, please BELIEVE in yourself today, tomorrow and always, because I do, and you are allowed to achieve in life all those things that you want. 2. When all else fails...pray. ©2001 Teresa A. Taylor. |
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Teresa A. Taylor University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Graduate Student, Single Mom, Friend |
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