I Mastered It

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jer. 29:11

Graduation Photo Shoot by Versaguis Photography

Where It All Started

In November of 2015 I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Language Education from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in my homeland of Jamaica. This degree was literally seven (7) years in the making. I started a Bachelor degree in September of 2008 and I ended up failing my first year. I failed not because of anything or anyone but because of me. I was so in ‘love’ at the time that I skipped classes and just didn’t take school seriously. Fast forward three (3) years, I am a single mother with a one year old and an abundance of determination and ambition. I started my Bachelor’s again in 2011 and this time I successfully completed it in 2015. After its completion I applied for the Master’s degree program and got accepted. I, however, deferred for a year due to financial constraints. I ended up moving to the United States in January 2017 to take up a teaching position in South Carolina, so my Master’s was again deferred but not denied.

The Plunge

After three years of living and working in the United States I decided it was time to take the plunge and go back to school to get my Master’s degree. I applied to the American College of Education in June 2019 for a Master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology. The program which began in September was fifteen months long. My first thought was “What have I gotten myself into?” I was a single mom, working full time with a son enrolled in travel soccer, but if you know me, you know that determination courses through my veins. I started my first course and it was a whole new learning curve for me. I was juggling lesson plans, writing papers and doing quizzes on a Sunday. I was also doing discussion post on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. There were weeks where I was totally burned out, but at the end of my first course I earned an ‘A’. In that moment I promised myself that I would get an ‘A’ for every other course going forward.

The Master Plan

American College of Education has a single commencement ceremony on the last Saturday of July every year. With an expected graduation date of December 2020, I would have to attend commencement in July 2021. That didn’t sit well with me, I wanted to attend commencement and graduate in 2020. I decided to pen a plan for just that. I believe that anything I set my mind to I can do it. My plan consisted of taking extra courses for three semesters. This meant an additional discussion post every week and additional papers and quizzes every Sunday. It was so exhausting but I kept thinking about the end result. When I faltered, I had a close circle of friends who helped me to keep my head above water. They don’t even know how grateful I am for them.

The Graduate

My hard worked paid off. I maintained straight A’s and on July 25, 2020 I was able to take part in a virtual commencement. I was a bit disappointed that I was not able to walk across a physical stage but I was still grateful for how much I had achieved. I had completed a fifteen (15) month degree program in ten (10) months. I graduated with a Master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology with a 4.0 GPA as a Distinguished Graduate.

Commencement 2020

Friends Who Are Family

At the end of it all, I have honestly surprised myself. I know what I am capable of but sometimes I doubt myself. I started off in faith and that along with the grace of God is what helped me to survive this program. I also had a wonderful group of supportive friends. They are the type of friends who at times believed in me more than I believed in me. They pushed me, they cheered me on and they helped to keep me grounded. They helped me to master it!

What goals have you set out to achieve? How has it been? Let me know in the comments be.

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