College
So, I was 18 years old, fresh out of high school and essentially no clue as to what I wanted to be when I grew up. So what did I do? I went to a four-year school for a degree in communications. Fast forward to two semesters later and my once A’s and B’s were quickly sliding down to C’s and D’s. Apparently communications was not for me.
So what did I do? I changed schools and decided to give community college a try. My mom had been a registered nurse for over 30 years so my thought was, why not? Well, you guessed it. Those C’s and D’s were leering their heads again. It was at that point that I was seriously second guessing my ability at this college thing.
Relationships & Life Events
So by 20 years old, I had been dating a guy for a few months. Soon into the relationship, I discovered that he had a pretty bad drug problem. After much consideration, I ended that relationship, only to find myself dating another guy with the same exact drug addiction.
It was also around this time, that my older sister died suddenly. After ending it with Boyfriend Number 2 and trying my best to grieve the loss of my sister, I found myself suffering from debilitating panic attacks and Depression. I was having trouble going to school or work and sometimes even leaving the house.
Coping and New Opportunities
During the next few years , I worked hard at getting myself to a stable place emotionally. I soon discovered something. I was interested in becoming a counselor. So I transferred to a different community college and completed a 2 year degree in drug and alcohol counseling. I was 25 at the time and of course here came Anxiety telling me “Oh my you are too old to still be in college!” But that didn’t stop my passion.
Keep At It
Age 27 meant getting my Bachelor’s degree in Social work and by 28 I had my Master’s in Social Work. I am now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Private Practice, doing the work I love most.
Always Learning
So what did I learn from my journey through school? Well,that life certainly will not play out as expected! Did I have moments where I second guessed my talents and abilities? Sure. Did I have major life events that impacted my ability to cope effectively? You betcha! But I didn’t let that stop me from achieving my goals.
Do these life struggles sound familiar to you? Have you at times been your own worst critic and felt like you were not capable of achieving great things? If so, contact me and let’s put together a plan of action.