Alright, let’s talk about getting that bachelor’s degree. For me, it wasn’t straight out of high school. Nope, I was already working, plugging away, but felt like I hit a ceiling, you know? Seemed like everywhere I looked, that piece of paper was a requirement, even if the job didn’t strictly need it.
Getting Started
So, I decided to just go for it. First step was digging up all my old school records. Took ages finding that stuff. Then, filling out applications online. Felt like shouting into the void for a while there. Click submit, and wait. That was the hardest part early on, just the waiting and wondering.
Finally got accepted into a program – mostly evening classes, which fit around my job. Okay, cool. Then came picking courses. Looked at the list, trying to figure out what made sense, what I could actually handle. Signed up for the first batch. Felt a bit like jumping off a cliff.
The Actual Grind
Man, those first few semesters were something else. Finish work, grab a quick bite, rush to campus or log into an online class. Brain already fried from the day. Trying to absorb lectures on stuff I hadn’t thought about in years… or ever. It was tough.
- Late nights became standard. Coffee was my best friend.
- Weekends? Mostly spent catching up on reading or writing papers. Social life took a nosedive.
- Some subjects just clicked, others felt like hitting a brick wall. Statistics, man… don’t get me started.
- Group projects were a mixed bag. Sometimes great, other times felt like pulling teeth trying to get everyone on the same page.
There were definitely times I thought, “Why am I doing this?” Especially after a long day at work followed by a confusing lecture or a bad grade on an assignment. Felt like I was running on fumes most of the time.
Pushing Through It
But, you just kinda… keep going. Put one foot in front of the other. I got into a rhythm, figured out how to manage my time a bit better. Started saying ‘no’ to things more often, just to carve out study time. Found a couple classmates who were in the same boat, juggling work and study. We’d grab coffee sometimes, mostly just to complain, but it helped knowing I wasn’t the only one struggling.
Had to learn how to study again, really. It wasn’t like high school. Had to figure out what worked for me. Lots of trial and error. Flashcards, study groups (the good ones), office hours with professors when I was really stuck. Just kept chipping away at it.
Finally Done
That last semester felt surreal. Handing in the final project, taking the last exam… it was weird. Suddenly, there were no more classes to rush to, no more papers hanging over my head. Felt strange having free evenings again.
Graduation day was… okay. Nice ceremony and all that. Wore the silly hat and gown. Took some pictures. But honestly? The biggest feeling was just relief. It was over. I actually finished the damn thing.
So, yeah. Got the bachelor’s. Didn’t magically change my life overnight. Still the same person, still gotta work hard. But maybe it opened a door or two, maybe it just ticked a box that needed ticking. More than anything, I think I proved something to myself. Sticking with something that hard, for that long… yeah. That felt pretty good in the end.
