Introduction

 My name is DeAnn, I am almost 50 yrs old and due to some career changes have finally decided I need to complete my higher education. I like several students like me started college right out of high school however I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do forever. I initially started out as physical therapy at a university in a small town, very little jobs available and I was fully responsible for myself, so I ended up getting a job the following summer that I decided to continue and take a break for a semester to try to save up to focus back on school. 

This led me to transfer colleges in a more populated town to be able to get a job that would work around my class schedule, I also changed my major to Zoology for my love of animals. I focused on school while I worked fulltime, however that major was not working for me and I was also sidetracked being 19 yrs old so my focus wasn't where it really should have been. I started back up with my seasonal job that following summer and worked till November again taking the fall semester off. I decided it was time to focus back on school; my seasonal job brought my interested into Civil Engineering so that was my new focus. 

The new major change led me to move to Florida, I started at a Junior College to get my basic classes completed, I am pretty sure there is not one math class that I haven't taken, I actually love any math problem, now writing is a different story so this blog is a challenge to be honest. I am not the biggest fan of English, I always say give me a math problem I will be ecstatic make me write a story not so much. I ended up transferring to UNF (they partnered with U of F for the engineering degree). I loved it and I even had interviews with companies to start working due to the lack of women in the field and I was the only female in the program at my school. I was working at a bank during my time down there, they allowed me time to attend classes which was perfect, I had my number job and time for school. Unfortunately, my mom got really sick during this time, I decided I need to move closer to home to be near her. 

I took a year off during this time and focused on family and work, I was able to get a job at another bank, and I started back up with completing my engineering degree around working fulltime. I had a change in jobs shortly after which I then started to travel quite a bit for work. I ended up putting my degree on hold due to my job travel, I was actually some years gone for 6 months or greater so attending class was very difficult especially with the travel being international. I regret putting my job as a priority over my own growth. I was a number at my company, I know to prioritize myself going forward. Which has now led me to finally complete my degree with yet another change in my major. 

I have worked in the Finance Business world for over 25 yrs, lead 40 B payment systems being implemented, helped lead multiple finance systems across finance depts so even though I could complete my Civil Engineering degree in less time I have decided that Business Administration makes the most sense as that is where my experience is. I am excited to complete my degree even if it only for myself, it is something I regret always putting on the back burner and putting my jobs and other situations ahead of completing it.