Last year my wife got to walk and receive her nursing certificate as a Registered Nurse. Maybe I am envious of her accomplishments. Maybe I have a little more time now that she is able to work and I’m again self-employed. Maybe I’m not ready to grow up. Or maybe I want to show my children that I can finally finish what I started years ago. All these are likely factors to my next step in life, but ultimately I want to teach the next generation. So, here I go headed back to college to finish my Bachelors Degree.

In 2003 I graduated with an AS in Business from Utah Valley State College. I wanted to further my education at the time and pursue a Bachelors Degrees. After switching majors, multiple times and not landing on something that I felt confident with I opted to push pause. We had a newborn daughter. I felt that I needed to focus more on providing for my family financially versus continuing into debt for school at the time. I continued to further my skills as I worked my way around the business world until I landed on starting two separate businesses. I first started a small social media marketing agency that then gave way to Altra in 2010. We committed to Altra full-time and worked on building that until recently. I’ve felt this need to provide and fulfill my role as the breadwinner.

For the past few years, I have had the internal debate of whether to ever go back to school. While building a business and then having my wife in school it never seemed like a possibility. Yet, now that both of those hurdles are out of the way I decided that I should consider it. Well, a few months ago I applied and enrolled. I am now a full-fledged college student again. Last week was my first time back in a college classroom since 2004. It is odd. I’m not sure if I feel like I belong. This is a different step for me.

I’ve done well without having a Bachelors Degree, but now I’d like to get into teaching in the future. To go into the world of academia I must put myself through the necessary schooling. So here I am. This is going to be a battle emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially, but I look forward to the challenge. I thrive when I have to hustle and get a lot done. This is going to be exciting and engaging for me. As I push forward with the end in mind then I will be able to accomplish a lot. It’s going to be a different challenge. I’m looking forward to the semester and getting back at it.