A Texas Stay at Home Mom Goes Back to College to Pursue a Degree

Many people dream of going back to school. Whether it’s for better career opportunities, just to feel better about themselves, or anything in between, going back to college is something that more and more people are doing, and they’re doing it later and later in life. Many of these people are actually stay at home moms. In fact, there was recently one stay at home mom who decided it was time to finally get a degree, and she learned a lot of things along the way. From applying for financial aid to walking across that graduation stage, knowing a few things ahead of time helped her greatly, and they could help you too!

To start off with, one of the things that really helped this mom was realizing, as she did on the first day in class, that she wasn’t the only one in her shoes! She had thought she’d enter a room full of kids- eighteen and nineteen year olds fresh out of high school. And, while there were plenty of young people in the room of that first class, there were actually many moms just like her as well, and there were even people older than her! Seeing that helped her greatly, so, if you are thinking of going back to school, know that you won’t be in it alone. There are many others just like you!

Knowing what to expect when going back to school can ease a lot of fears, doubts, and worries, but sometimes, there are some nice surprises along the way as well. This particular mom, for example, actually discovered that she made some great friends, across all age groups and walks of life, when she went back to school. This could be the case for you too, and a whole host of other surprises could be in store as well, so, even though it sounds like an oxymoron, expect the unexpected if you go back to school later in life!

Something else this mom learned was that she could do anything! That may sound sentimental, but it’s true. College should challenge you, improving your confidence along the way with each new goal you achieve. So, when you think of going back to school, think of it as a time that, while perhaps a little frightening, can help you to build up your confidence, improve you as a person, and expand your horizons in wonderful ways that you never thought possible.

No adult learner can ever completely prepare for the journey of going back to school. But, knowing what to expect can at least help a little. That’s not to say that there aren’t going to be some surprises along the way- there will be- but it is to say that you shouldn’t worry or stress. Prepare as best as you can and then trust in yourself to figure out the rest and to come out the other side so much better than when you started. Going back to college will, no matter what, be a rewarding experience, so bank on and prepare for that above all else.