I Moved Beyond My Failures. Now, I’m Getting It.
After receiving my GED, I was encouraged to look into careers of interest and continue my education. I was a teen mom, raising a toddler. I knew, at the time, I needed to pursue a career allowing me the financial means to provide for my daughter. So, I chose to pursue a degree in the only career I really knew anything about, business administration or accounting.
A counselor at an organization dedicated to disadvantaged youth helped me find a position related to my interest in accounting and business. The position was an administrative assistant under the chief financial officer at an engineering firm.
At this firm, I learned about engineering, a field I knew nothing about. I found engineering fascinating. I also learned the ends and out of running a business. I took my exposure to engineering and business as a sign to begin my journey into higher education.
I enrolled in community college. I took the placement test, placing me in remedial math courses, starting with pre-algebra. As a high school dropout, I didn’t expect any more. So, I weighed my options, and knew failure, my worst fear, was not one of them. I had so much at stake as the head of my household and provider to my toddler. I proceeded into the unknown and took the risk, even if it meant starting with remedial courses.
A degree in business or engineering required a mathematical background beyond pre-algebra, so I had no choice but to take the remedial courses. Engineering, out of the two, was the most intimidating because it required the most math. If I could get to the point where a degree in engineering was possible, I would pursue engineering. If not, then I’ll stick to business. Either way, I’ll have some career prospects. So to start, I declared my degree in General Studies, allowing me the flexibility to transition to business or engineering.
I began taking one or two classes, a mixture of remedial or general education courses, each semester in the evening. Every weekday started and ended with a two-hour bus commute. I left at 6 am to catch the bus to my 8:00 am - 5:00 pm job. On the days I attended classes, I returned home close to 10:30 pm to work on assignments.
Once I got to remedial intermediate algebra, my worst fear came to fruition. I failed remedial algebra, not once, but twice. I was so frustrated and ashamed because I didn’t “get” math, as some say. I felt like I should have “gotten” algebra at this point in my life, but I didn’t. It took me a while to realize my time runs differently from others. I was dealing with a two-hour commute, a toddler, and juggling a full-time job. Not to mention, I dropped out of high school, never formally completing the ninth grade. I instead told myself there was no shame in starting where I needed to start. What matters is that I'm improving and working towards a better standard of life. It’s okay not to “get” things the first time, the second time, or even the third time. We all have different stories and timelines. We “get” things when our time comes.
When I started taking college-level math courses, I realized my setback was just the start. The failed attempts at remedial math courses developed my drive, helping me throughout my academic endeavors. I gained the ability to get back up on my feet and keep on going. I also gained the ability to teach myself new things. I told myself repeatedly in higher-level math and engineering courses that intermediate algebra did not stick the first time, but once I got it, I GOT IT. It was my biggest motivator; I knew I would eventually “get” it, no matter the topic. Since then, I have completed more calculus-based math and engineering courses than the two failed attempts in intermediate algebra.
I refused to give up. Instead, I persevered, allowing my failures to attest to my resilience and ability to overcome my downfalls. Fast forward, I’m in the early stages of my high-earning electrical engineering career, getting it!
My word of advice: what matters most is that you’re getting it eventually. It’s not where you start; it’s about where you’re going. So go out there and GET it!
