College was not in my future at my high school graduation. Most of my friends went to universities and I went from part-time to full time hours at the local coffee shop. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to go to college. The money wasn't there. And I certainly wasn't a scholar. Eventually I moved on to waitressing for the better half of my twenties spending my tips almost immediately after my shift was over. Sure, I had responsibilities. My father and I had a rocky relationship and I moved in and out of their house a few times. I finally moved out for good and rented a room at the boarding house down the street where I lived above a bar among the crackheads and other misguided youth. I even remember googling "sex offenders" and seeing the guy down the hall come up in my search which always freaked me out. But I was a freshly minted 21-year-old and I lived above the most popular bar in town! Oh those years were fun.
Most of my late teens and early twenties, I applied to several colleges and was even accepted to one that I really wanted to go to but couldn't afford. With every school, I wanted to persue a different degree. Next, I completed my first year in Community college for Business Administration but then lost my financial aid. I even took a CNA course as a last ditch effort and quit before the exam.
To this day, I'm still impressed by those who know what they want to be. Those who knew as a child that someday they'd be a teacher. To have even a clue that you're on the "right path".
Present day, the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm a mom to an almost two year old. I am lucky enough to work from home as an administrative assistant and persue one thing I've always been passionate about- selling on eBay! I've always had a knack for finding "treasures" at thrift stores and flipping them for good money. I've even taken this time to branch out and sell with Amazon which is a whole different beast.
It wasn't until now that I've realized that I don't fit into any one career like a little round peg. I hated the office setting I worked in when I was pregnant. I love when I see the traffic reports on the morning news and know I don't have to leave the house for a commute like I used to. I get to raise my daughter instead of dropping her off to a daycare that I most likely couldn't afford. And I still have the opportunity to contribute and earn my own money from my paycheck and other income streams.
I guess what this all means is that I have an entrepreneurial spirit. I always have but just wasn't in tune with that feeling. Perhaps this is something that schools should teach and nuture. Why not? There are Entrepreneur classes at those colleges I couldn't afford. I feel so fortunate that all of my past experiences have brought me here and I'm not over my head in student loans like so many of my friends. This realization is another sign of my personal growth and to be honest, I couldn't be happier.
