In this post, I will cover a rundown of my studies, over the past ten years. It’s not exhaustive, but it’ll certainly give you an idea of what subjects I enjoy the most. It’s really amazing to me that at young age, I always knew who I wanted to be, and the fields I wanted to forever be involved in. What are those fields? You’re going to have to read to find out.
When I began High school in 2014, I took my studies very seriously. My goal was to win a full-ride scholarship to any college I selected.
Freshman year was a bit rocky due to family matters. But by sophomore year, I found a good rhythm, and my grades were fantastic. I took many AP classes, mainly in my Junior and Senior years. Typically, I earned A’s, but there was always one or two Bs that prevented me from being a straight-A student. (I eventually learned to stop beating myself up and accept that I tried my best)
When I started High school, I wanted to become an engineer. When I got to sophomore year, a good-hearted teacher recommended her Entrepreneurship class. It was here that I discovered my love for Business.
Since I didn’t have much of a life outside of school, I participated in many extra-curricular activities. Student Council, Principal’s Advisory, Senior Class Officers, and more. The staff in these groups often pushed me to take on leadership roles, and to my surprise, I succeeded in them.
I found it fun to plan parties, create schedules, take meeting notes, etc. I often worked with the Principal to get approval for projects we wanted to enact. During my Senior year, I utilized a flat-screen TV in the lunchroom to announce StuCo plans. For years, the TV was unutilized. However, the following semester, the school adopted a system to utilize all TVs because of me. And I was the only student they trusted to have access to them. (At one point, I used it to give my friend a birthday shout-out. Luckily, I didn’t get in trouble)
Near graduation, I was surprised by how many awards I had won. It was nice to finally feel recognized for the hard work I was doing for the school and my classmates. I even received recommendation letters from my teachers, some staff, and Principal).
In early May, I got confirmation that I passed every test and every class. I was finally was able to exhale. I found joy in every mundane activity, cleaning out my locker, watching a movie in class, etc. The last four weeks of High School were greater than the entire four year’s. And on the day I graduated, I felt a massive weight off my soul. All the years of stress, anxiety, fear, dread, hopelessness, were finally over.
As summer started, I was excited about my new adventures in College. My new studies were going to get me closer to having my dream job. Also, I got into the University I wanted and was ready to ride off into the sunset. After all, I spent all of High school working towards a better future. I dealt with so many obstacles and pressures on every side. Yet, I never stopped believing that my future would be greater than my past.
Well, here’s where things take a turn; despite all of this, I barely won any scholarships. I had to cope with the reality that most applicants’ achievements are identical. No matter what one achieves in high school, hundreds more have pursued the same studies and achieved the same goals. Out of all the movies and show’s about High School, not a single one I cam across warned me about this reality.
Also, due to a lack of funds, I had to pass up the University I wanted to attend. And settle for a local university. However, this other University initially rejected me solely because of my ACT score. They ignored all my other accomplishments and dwelled on this bad score. They told me if I retook the test and got their minimum score, they would reconsider me. I retook it, got the minimum score, and was accepted. But, they told me I would need to maintain a “C” average to re-enroll. I found this incredibly insulting because I had already proved that I earned excellent grades.
And that I did.
I earned four As and one B in my first semester. I earned two As and two Bs in the second semester. My studies: I majored in Business, minored in psychology, and took screenwriting classes. Some staff were puzzled at this combination of courses. But what can I say? I have a lot of genuine interests.
By spring 2019, I decided I would only continue my studies at that University if I had the money. I won roughly five thousand dollars in scholarships, which took care of my first semester. But, I had to take out a loan in the second semester. And I was unwilling to go into deeper debt. To my surprise, God didn’t want me to continue my formal education. I was dismayed because I was sure I needed a degree to get a good job.
(Side note: People often encounter problems on the job they were never taught in school. Yet, employers trust that they’ll be able to learn as they go. Yet, this same level of grace, isn’t typically extended to those without degrees.)
As life went on, I understood that God didn’t want me to waste my time taking general courses. Those were the classes I didn’t enjoy, and I was wasting my energy. Most professors don’t teach — they talk, which wasn’t a rude awakening because I was used to educating myself. The most nerve-wracking part was telling loved ones I wouldn’t return to college, which, unsurprisingly, got mixed reactions. Ultimately, I chose to prioritize what God wanted above all else.
To my surprise, I started to see greater benefits of not pursuing college. Instead, I continued my studies on my own terms. I was no longer bound to a curriculum; I can learn about any topic I desire. And I absorbed knowledge much faster as I went with my flow.
For example, a few years back, I was considering eye surgery to get rid of my glasses. I endlessly researched the two routes people often take: PRK or Lasik. When I went to my eye doctor, I brought this up and told him I had been researching eye surgery online. He was standing, and I was in the (hot) seat. He slightly rolled his eyes, sighed, then said, “Explain it to me.” Within a few minutes, I perfectly explained the difference between the two. I touched on the unique methods used, how long the procedure takes, how long it takes to heal, who’s a good candidate for each, and how effective they are in the long run. His assistant was impressed while he was shocked. He stammered and said, “But you forgot to mention [xyz].” I agreed, and suddenly, he had more respect for me. When I left, I chuckled; he responded as if I was trying to take his job.
I hold this memory dear because it proved that when I enjoy what I’m learning, recalling it is effortless. I found myself studying various industries: Tech, Finance & Insurance, Legal, and even Media & Entertainment, to name a few.
Suddenly, I was at peace with not fulfilling my childhood dream of getting my bachelor’s and master’s. And eventually, I was at peace with the perceptions that followed.
I finally accepted that life comes with levels.
In conclusion, it’s lovely to receive an award, certificate, or degree to prove which level you conquered. But in reality, that isn’t available in most phases of life. But, when we end up in the hot seat, we must trust that we can prove ourselves. And who knows, maybe, earn someone’s respect in the process!
In an upcoming post, I will show the work that my studies have produced. For now, you can read about 6 Things I’m Grateful For