Every spring, my feed fills with graduation posts. Celebrations of hard-earned degrees and hopeful next chapters. This year, as I head into my second-to-last semester, I felt something I didn’t expect: envy.
Even though I’m close to the finish line, I couldn’t help but feel like I’m late.
That feeling hit me hard for a moment. I sat in it. Let it be real. But it didn’t stay long. Because not far behind that twinge of self-pity came the bigger, more powerful truth: I’ve come a long way.
When I started this journey several years ago, my daughter was still small. My textbooks were her bedtime stories. I'd read about psychology, branding, economics and even history while she drifted off beside me. Once she was asleep, I’d pivot to homework. During the day, I worked. And as she grew, started daycare, then school, my capacity to juggle everything grew too.
I earned my associate degree in graphic design right out of high school and jumped straight into the field. I built a career, grew professionally, and felt like I found some successes. But my bachelor’s stayed on the back burner — not because I didn’t want it, but because … life. Single parenthood. Prioritizing the "tiny human" as I call her, who needed me more than a diploma did.
Eventually, I found my rhythm again — and when I did, it wasn’t just my education that grew.
My daughter was learning, too. At 12, she’s already had a crash course in some heavy hitting college classes — not just through being read my textbooks, but through living it with me. She watched me study, she listened, and she learned. And it's still not over. I have been learning with her and for her. She’s whip-smart, emotionally intelligent, curious, so grounded and assertive. All things I didn’t come into until much later in life.
My daughter was learning, too. At 12, she’s already had a crash course in some heavy hitting college classes — not just through being read my textbooks, but through living it with me. She watched me study, she listened, and she learned. And it's still not over. I have been learning with her and for her. She’s whip-smart, emotionally intelligent, curious, so grounded and assertive. All things I didn’t come into until much later in life.
While pursuing my degree, I was also teaching design at Santa Fe College — my own alma mater. Guiding the next generation of designers kept me sharp when I felt burnt out. It reminded me why I fell in love with design and branding in the first place. It grew me as a mentor, a leader, a creative and a human being, even if I did take a semester or three off from school to do it. It pushed the timeline back, but it was worth it. It fueled the flame so I could keep going (and of course helped out with the kiddo's college fund).
So sure — it’s taken me longer. But this wasn’t a delay. It's journey. I’ve been building a life full of meaning, depth, and growth — not just a resume line.
I’m down to six classes. Three this summer. Three in the fall. Then I walk that stage. I move that tassel. And I show my daughter that even if it takes years, even if the road is winding — if you want something, you work hard and you don’t give up, you’ll get there.
I’m earning my bachelor’s in advertising at 42, but I’ve spent 20 years becoming the kind of creative, leader, and parent who will put it to use in ways no one else can.
So here’s to doing it in your own time. To honoring the pace of your life. To walking your own road — even if it winds, even if it takes longer.
Because it’s not just about when you arrive. It’s about who you become along the way.