When I came to the prayerful decision to quit my job , I posed a question to myself. "What am I going to do with all the time" and then it hit me! I was like DUH! GO BACK TO SCHOOL! I knew I was going to go back to school eventually but I hadn't because I couldn't figure out what I was going to do next.
You see I have this Nursing School phobia, I am scared to get into it and not be able to hack it and then have to drop out and have all sorts of student loans and nothing to show for it. So I decided that I am going to take the baby steps version of life and see where it takes me. Its worked out pretty well for me so far. I have my CNA certificate and I enjoyed doing that till I couldn't enjoy it any longer. I am also a certified Phlebotomist, I LOVED MY JOB! Unfortunately working 12 hour graveyard shifts takes its toll. I had been stressing about this years school year, for a long time. With Laira in all day school and Bailey in half day kindergarten, I didn't know how I was going to get them to school and still get sleep. When I was working I was already pretty grouchy all the time this was just going to escalate things. So I prayed about it and felt I was suppose to quit my job, at first I was upset because I had worked so hard to get to where I was. I prayed again and it was clear that I was suppose to quit my job and put my little family first. So then to decide what would be best to go to school for, and I decided on Medical Assisting for many reasons, its basically the same hours as the girls school so it will be a better schedule all around.
I had a great experience at Mountain Land ATC getting my CNA so I decided to check out their program first. It must have been divinely inspired because the program hours fit perfectly with the only time both girls are in school. (although the class does start 15 minutes before Kindergarten.) Well to be able to register for any classes at MATC you have to take an assessment test.
This test tests your English reading comprehension and your Math skills. Anyone who really knows me knows that English is a strength and Math is my mortal enemy. I have NEVER been good at math it has always held me back and made me feel inadequate for many things. Well I went in to take the test, I breezed through the English and then got to the math. I did the best that I could. I got to the fractions and did them the way I thought I remembered to do them, but it never came out right. After the test I took my papers out to the lovely testing lady and she scored my test. She said "You did very well on the English, you only missed 2" and then she was silent for a long time, and that is when I knew I failed. But when she gave me the paper she said I only failed by 2 questions. That is a lot better than I thought I would do . So I went home and took the test review and studied. I watched some tutoring videos on youtube and I went back a week later and took it again. I was devastated when I missed it by 2 questions again.
She took me to talk to the admissions counselor and told me that there is a waver that they could sign that said I knew that I wasn't up to par but wanted to take the class anyways. The counselor told me she didn't want to sign the waver, I was so close and she wanted me to come back and take the test again. I was bugged but I also wanted to pass the test.
It took me longer to bounce back.. I think it was almost 3 weeks before I went back to take it again. but first I asked my Uncle for some help. He sat with me for at least an hour and a half helping me learn the best way to do Fractions, percents and decimals. I went in a couple of days later feeling prepared to take the test.
I signed in and the guy handed me the test, it was different from the one I took the last 2 times. I was worried but okay until I opened the test, It was a lot harder than the other one. I silently cried through the whole thing. I was sure I wasn't going to pass. I went though and did the best I could. when I got done I handed my paper to the lady and said "That was a really hard test" and she said "yes its the hardest one we have, but the good news is you can miss more" I stood there and cried while she scored the test, she was silent again. She picked up the paper , handed it to me and said "You passed" I lost it, I was bawling in the testing center.
I grabbed my paper and walked to the Counselors office, I asked if she had a second and she told me I had to make it quick. So I went in and put the paper on her desk and said "I passed" She jumped out of her chair and gave me a big hug. She told me she was proud of me and then she saw it was the hardest test, and had to hug me again. She said that I showed real dedication and perseverance. She told me I will do great in the class and I believed her.
The only catch is that the program is open entry open exit. So I have to wait for a someone to exit so I can enter. She told me that she things the Tuesday after Labor Day she will have some openings. So now I am just playing the waiting game, and getting use to having 2 girls in school. I am excited and terrified for school.
BRING IT ON!
That's right, I've started school. I didn't get a spot in the afternoon class but there was an opening in the morning. My Mom was willing to help me out with the girls and so things have been running well so far.
