Hannah is currently working as an esthetician in Dallas and going to school online at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Her Success Coach is supporting her in finishing her Psychology degree and planning for her future.
Where I grew up, college was painted as the yellow brick road to a successful career and life. But school was always challenging for me, both educationally and socially. I feared the idea of continuing this process for another four years, so I created numerous plans on ways to bypass college and still have the job of my dreams. I would research internships, work trades, and even trade schools. No plan ever seemed as ‘safe’ or justifiable as going to a university. I applied to college in my last months of my senior year, and got accepted to TAMU-CC. I wish I had a better reason for picking this school, but I honestly loved that it was on the water. I remember thinking “if all else fails, at least I’ll be by the beach!”
My fears about going to college came true right away. I was put on scholastic probation in my first year. I learned that I struggle with anxiety and depression (which I believe is wildly untalked about, especially for those new to college). And, though I was now in school, I still had no idea what I wanted to major in. When I was a freshman, this seemed understandable. When I became a junior, and I was still in this place, I felt scattered. I became frustrated with paying a substantial amount of money, to barely pass classes, that I wasn’t sure were leading me down a path that I wanted to be on. I remember having a melt-down and deciding I was done. The next day I told my friends (they thought I was crazy), and then I went to school and withdrew from all my classes. Within that same week, I took a job on a farm in Hawaii.
When I left college, I had no idea if I would ever want to come back. I started actually experiencing things I had always wanted to. I traveled to beautiful places. I worked a lot and met people from all over the world. I even got my esthetician license. Working in the beauty industry has always been a dream of mine, and this was my first step into that world. Seeing different parts of the world made me realize that college is by no means a necessity to a good life. But it is a really wonderful opportunity that many don’t get the chance to do. Once I realized this, I wanted to go back. I didn’t want the previous work I had accomplished to go to waste, and I wanted to enjoy the short time I had left.
It was a big decision to go back to school, and to have someone there made it less daunting. My coach has really been helpful in reaching out and checking in on how I am doing. I feel like I always have someone in my corner!
My dream is to graduate college, and find or create a job that incorporates both my love of the beauty and fashion industry with psychology.
My best advice would be to do it for you. It’s hard. It takes a lot of time, money, and determination. If you’re doing it for you, then it will carry you through any obstacle you face.