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Keeping your goals in perspective

Going to college was one of my life's goals. It also taught me how to balance work, family, education and fun

By Denise Oquendo, 8/17/09

September was always an emotional month for me. I felt excited that my children were preparing to return to school after a summer vacation. I also felt sad, as if something were missing for me. I had a strong desire to return to school, to be a student, to learn new material and acquire knowledge that I could use in a new career.

But how would I be able to juggle work and family—already hard to keep up with—while adding school?

I had been an administrative assistant for more than 10 years. I wanted to earn more and get promoted, but I did not have a college education. The job market was calling for at least an associate degree for entry-level positions in my field of work; my years of work experience were not enough. The only sensible option was to return to school, my ultimate desire.

After surviving a layoff scare at work, I enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology College of Applied Science and Technology for the business administration AAS. I was still a little leery of how I would juggle the new responsibility, but I took it slowly and started out with two classes. I eventually added another class, then another.

By my third quarter, I was taking four classes. It was great! I had a schedule that included, work, study, family, housework and fun! My schedule book looked like a football field play plan, there were so many cross outs and reschedules, but it worked.

I scheduled and rescheduled. I made adjustment sometimes three or four times to make sure that I was on track. I am a strong believer in keeping my life in perspective, such as prioritizing family, work, school and fun. I made the dean’s list for at least two quarters, and there were some classes in which I got a grade of C. Though I don’t advocate striving for a C, I will say this: When you are managing your family and work responsibilities at the same level as before you started school, then a C is equal to an A.

In other words, I learned not to stress too much. Most importantly, I learned the material and didn’t stress the rest. On graduation day, my entire family was there to see me in my cap and gown. I felt so very proud of all of my accomplishments, and also that my family was there to support me all the time. Now, I am going for my bachelor’s, and eventually I’ll finish the MBA program.

Being in school has really changed my outlook on life, how I juggle family and work and still fit in time to do the thing that I have wanted to do all my life: get a college degree. I have encouraged my oldest daughter to return to college, and now she is in her second year at RIT. I walked her and her friend through the registration process. Both of them were on the dean’s list for four quarters and still going.

I was glad I caught the higher-education bug, and I’m glad to say that it’s very contagious!

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