Dedication: Dedicated to my granddaughters.
It’s Never Too Late
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the sun Ecclesiastes 3:1
Jacqueline Maynard-Campbell
April 8, 2016
It is never too late to live your dreams, as long as you keep them in the forefront of your mind. Doing so means you must write them down and place them where you can see them often. You may have to write them down every year that you have not accomplished them and even revise them. The important thing is to never dismiss those dreams and goals that you are passionate about. They will come to pass.
One of my dreams was to obtain a university degree. When I graduate from high school, my parents did not have the funds to send me to university. They like I was not aware of financial aid options. However, I attended night school to take some advance classes such as chemistry, trigonometry and Spanish. The reason, I was not sure, but I felt I needed to.
Prior to my attendance at high school, I was an honor student throughout primary and junior high school. Never missed a term not being on the Honor Roll, What happened in high school I cannot explain, I just lost focus. No I was not into boys, partying or anything like that, not even one of the “in” crowds. For some reason I lost confidence in myself. There were issues in my family life that I tried not to let affect me, but I believe they did and I enclosed myself into a shell. However, I was jolted back into knowing that I was performing below my potential, when my guidance counselor’s, career path recommendations for me were assistance dietitian or practical nurse (Not Dietitian or Registered Nurse). Now there is nothing derogatory about either one of those positions, but I knew I had the potential to be more than an assistant and even though my grades did not qualify me for Honor Roll status, they were above average. That was why I enrolled in night school to better prepare myself for university acceptance. Still no funds and still unaware about financial aid, but I knew I was going to obtain a degree.
Graduated in the Class of 1960, fast forward to 1967 began taking my first university credits at the Department of Agricultural in Washington, DC. I was employed with The American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) and they offer employee reimbursement of tuition. During that same time I was pregnant with my first child and therefore did not complete the course, because I returned home to Pittsburgh, Pa.
After having my child and returning to work with AT&T, in Pittsburgh, I enrolled at the local community college and took more classes. However, I did not continue. Then I enrolled part time at Pittsburgh University, again did not continue. It was not until I enrolled at Warren County Community College in Washington, NJ (company transfer) that I started to make some progress toward my associated degree, acquiring 21 credits (1987-1989). In 1989 I accepted an early retirement offer from AT&T that was too good to refuse. (I thank God everyday for the individual or individuals that inspired and implemented the plan that enable me to do so.} I was only 47 years of age at the time and I am still reaping the benefits. In addition, I got married and moved to The Bahamas in 1990.
Fast forward 17 years. I began university classes at Colorado Technical University On-line in July of 2007 with my 21 accepted credits. I completed my Associates Degree in Business Administration with highest honors, my Bachelor of Science Degree with a concentration in Project Management – Summa Cum Laude, and my Executive Masters Degree in Business Administration and was also inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business, Management and Administration.
Yes, life got in the way of my not accomplishing my dream sooner, but I never lost hope in it. Every year, I placed it on my goals for the year, every year! The opportunity finally presented itself once again and I took full advantage of it and stayed focused. “51 years”, but I got it done!
Obtaining my degree was my major dream, but there were many more that I was able to tick off my list over the years. Visiting the Holy Land in Israel was another accomplishment in 2014.
So as the title of this article state, it is never too late to accomplish your dreams. Have faith in yourself and most importantly have faith in God. One more thing Write It Down!
“May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed”. Psalm 20:4