Writer's Block: Educated guess
My education gave me a lot of unintended benefits. It also let me explore the area I did intend to experience, but over all, I realize now that I had no idea what my options were. I never received career exploration opportunities and had no idea how to get from life what I wanted, no idea what OPTIONS I really had for careers that would have suited me better.
My college also taught me about being service oriented, and I think that was good, but I was so impressionable, and naive. I was never the focus of the benefits of my labor. It was always about giving to others to help fulfill their dreams and aspirations, but at 32, I realize that MY dreams and aspirations were never part of the equation.
I am beginning to see that in order to make the world a better place, and to really contribute to my community, I have to take care of me first, I have to help myself fulfill my dreams, and that will in turn help my local community, and my family and my friends. Helping people in poor situations is all fine and dandy, but how poor was I emotionally when I was neglecting myself! Change begins with me, and it begins with believing in myself. I tell my students this all the time, and yet have never done it for myself. How silly!
I am leaving the career that college prepared me for, but I have the confidence that my college experience gave me to move forward, and I know that I will be successful in whatever I do, because I always have.
