Dear Tamara:
I have been thinking about going back to school for a couple of years now. But it seems like every time I get serious about it, something happens, or something comes up that prevents me from going. I just got accepted into a program and am not sure if I am going to be able to actually go. I just started a new job and would now have to go to school in the evenings. That means finding a sitter for my two sons. Many of my friends have gone back to school and some have already completed their programs, but I’m beginning to feel like there is never going to be a right time for me to finish school and get my degree.
Right Time
Dear Right Time:
I have been where you are and I spent four years “talking” about going back to school. Seriously, I had a friend complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees while I was still just “thinking about it and thinking of all the obstacles in my way! And to be honest, I was fearful of being labeled an “adult learner!” Being a nontraditional student was not appealing to me. And I had no idea where to begin. As motivated as I was coming up with barriers and reasons why it was not the right time for me to pursue my education, I should have been just as motivated to find some solutions to my challenges!
I’m sharing this to say that there really is no such thing as the “right time.” If you are waiting for perfect timing to start living your dreams and accomplishing your goals, you will be waiting FOREVER. Life is full of twists and turns and there never seems to be a perfect time to do anything. Stop using “perfect timing” as an excuse as to why you cannot accomplish your goals.
Now I am not saying jump headfirst into situations without proper planning and being prepared. But I am saying that no matter what your current situation, you can still move toward living your dreams. If God has given you vision and a plan for your life, He has also equipped you with the talent and resources needed to fulfill that plan, even if the plan takes a detour or somehow strays off course. In other words, whether you go back to school today or two years from now, there are sure to be challenges.
I help individuals every day through my coaching programs to find the balance they need to go back to school and accomplish their educational goals. I would be happy to work with you and help you develop a realistic action plan to go back to school!
