Currently I am a part-time student of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh — Online division obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a major of Interior Design. …
My personal goal of earning a bachelor's degree is very important to me because I failed to complete an associate's degree ten years ago. During that time, I was a single parent that faced many obstacles such as: solely caring for a child with chronic health issues; lack of family support; and lack of any assistance in the form of child support. Due to these obstacles, it became incredibly difficult to attend my classes resulting in an absentee rate as high as 70% over the course of a semester. …
For the past ten years, I have worked as a graphic designer, self instructed, and have had some great experiences over the years. … There is a greater opportunity or purpose waiting for me to discover and I hope to find it upon my completion of my degree. I know that Interior Design is going to be a fantastic adventure to experience working with various elements such as fabrics, furniture, and lighting which will open up a whole new world to design and explore.
Online education is such a great opportunity and advantage for me simply for the flexibility of my schedule. … I feel that since there is not an environment that we all have the ability to come together to share ideas and support each other, extra effort needs to be put forward to assist other students in whatever capacity is needed.
For me, I enjoy the ability to log in wherever I can connect to the Internet. It provides me the flexibility to complete an assignment from anywhere and allows more quality time with my family. Family is the core reason that I endure long days and nights, and on occasion long periods without sleep. My ambition is to provide a positive role model for my daughter along with the prospect of providing a more secure future for her and my husband.
Over the course of her thirteen year life, economically I have come a very long way. While I was pregnant, I lived in my car, I have had two close calls with cancer, once while I was pregnant, and the second was while my daughter was in first grade. During that year I experienced four surgeries resulting in a hysterectomy when I was only 27 years-old. Due to the physical issues that I had, I lost everything that I had achieved because I was unable to work, and I had to file for bankruptcy in a hope of regaining my life back financially.
My daughter and I have experienced so many highs and lows in her short life of only thirteen years. It is my responsibility to teach her to be a productive, positive entity in this large world that can knock you down at any time. I feel that it is imperative to always have a goal and to stay committed and focused no matter how long or turbulent the road is to achieve it.
I know that I am a great example of personal strength and perseverance. I will complete my bachelor's degree online in seven years from now which may be a long road for some, but well worth the struggle. When the times comes, I will be proud to stand next to my daughter and graduate from college the same month that she will graduate from High School— that will be my greatest reward.