Have you ever felt embarrassed by your lack of a degree?

[april004]

I graduated salutorian from my high school- so yes I am embarrassed. It was always expected from my parents and teachers that I would immediately go to college. I joined the Army instead, much to the dismay and shock of everyone. But even in making that step toward independence, my parents voices were still with me in every decision I made. They said that the military wasn't for women and that if I intended to join I better choose an MOS that was a position a "good girl" like myself could be respectable in. I finished high school early and wasn't yet 18. My father told the recruiter he wouldn't sign the papers allowing me to go unless he found a position that would be more suitable for me. Well, I should have waited till I was 18 and not bended to my father's whims.

When it was time to pick what Mos I was interested in, my recruiter steered me to pick something that was medical despite the fact there were other things I wanted to try. So instead I ended up being a medic. Eventually that lead me to being a licensed practical nurse. My parents couldn't be happier. They now expected me to go on to become an RN.

The truth is- I was never passionate about being an LPN. I did the dutiful thing after I got out of the Army and went to school intending to become a full fledged RN. I took all those science courses,,,,all those math courses....and then I quit. I wanted to do something I always yearned to do.

So I took dance lessons. I learned Spanish on my own combined with constantly practicing with a Mexican roomate I used to have, and became fluent without taking a college course! I went on and got my personal training certificate because this former nerd who wasn't allowed to play sports as a child (because it wasn't proper)always wanted to be active and I thank the Army for bringing it out in me. Although I am now bilingual, can chacha and waltz and run marathons and triathlons just for fun... 10 years later this former Salutorian is still an Lpn with no degree. I know I have accomplished much but without that degree there are times I felt like nothing.

I hate when conversations would start with -" what do you do? Where did you go to school?" I'd much rather people asked what my hobbies were. When it comes down to it, it's my hobbies that make me the interesting person I am, not my alma mater.

Although I've moved 500 miles from home, my friends and my husband's family are surprised that I have just a high school education. Times like those are when I want to dig myself in a hole.

Recently after a family reunion back in my old Hometown one of my aunts said ,"No degree and still a lpn?"

I finally decided to go back and get my degree after the birth of my son. I decided once and for all I would get that RN degree to make my family proud. But like before I took a class here, a class there and didn't quite commit myself.

It was my husband who told me,"You've been trying to get your degree for years. Maybe you haven't finished because nursing isn't what you want to do. Do something that makes you happy!"

He's always known I like learning for learning's sake. Without my degree I still feel I've amassed alot of knowledge. I am constantly kicking everyone's butt in Trivial Pursuit and am always answering the questions on Jeopardy.

I decided to go ahead and get that degree in something I enjoy! Right now I am unsure what, but it most definately will be something other than nursing! Thus far, I have taken the sociology test and passed- only going over instantcert's questions once!

I am taking Intro to Psych next at the end of the month and US history II. I am on a roll here and excited. I have a few credits from the schools I attended and my Army training. I am unsure where I want to enroll. I've been looking at Excelsior, Thomas Edison and Charter Oak.

It feels good to finally get that degree on my own terms. Sure it's 10 years later but it is better than never.