A Shift in Perspective: My Schooling Experience

The year began with a sense of excitement and anticipation as I committed myself to pursuing higher education. Enrolling in school seemed like the logical next step, a chance to acquire knowledge, explore new subjects, and forge connections with fellow learners. Yet, as the months unfolded, it became increasingly clear that this path was not aligning with my true aspirations.

I grappled with the realization that sometimes the most courageous decision is to step away from a well-trodden path. After careful contemplation and soul-searching conversations, I made the difficult choice to leave formal education behind. This shift allowed me to redirect my energy towards more fulfilling pursuits.

I’ve spent the better part of a decade taking additional college courses, all the while hoping it would lead to a commitment in a doctoral or graduate program. With nearly 150 credit hours on my transcripts, it seemed apparent that putting these towards an advanced degree was the appropriate next step. In addition to the challenges of re-learning things I hadn’t reviewed since my teens, lockdown limited what we could do in classrooms, working full time, running an increasingly busy business, and transportation issues all were hills I climbed. I was feeling better in 2022 as I started classes in person, only to find one professor had really stopped caring about his teaching, and another cared so little he quit just over halfway through the semester. This long story condensed into a few sentences really took its toll on my psyche.

I recently read that “when you continue to run against a brick wall, it’s time to change direction”. After some soul-searching and discussions with trusted advisors, I’ve decided that until life carves a path to further education, my primary goal is to learn in ways that aid my practice, not impede it.

I will continue to self-study, to take seminars and classes, and advanced continuing education as opposed to traditional college courses. This will allow me to remain flexible and continue to grow my strengths as a practitioner.