Real Life Research

  I knew that I wanted to go back to school, in fact I always knew that I wanted to further my education, but just how far do I want to go? I am 41 years old, with a daughter who is a junior in high school, soon I will be paying for her college education, can I really afford to pay for the both of us to go to school at the same time?  Tuition, books, insurance, taxes,,,,how much money is this going to drain from our already depleting savings?
  I found myself in a do or die situation. "Take your chance now and don't let it slip away again, you'll just find another excuse not to go." When I was in my early 20's, that was the case, either I couldn't afford it at the time, or something or someone was more important. This was the last opportunity for me to pursue my education, actually work on myself and not work for someone else. In the mail, with the very unimpressive Unemployment Compensation check, was a letter pertaining to the one dream that had been pushed to the far back reaches of my mind, Apply for College,and Take Advantage of the Opportunities, written in big bold letters.
 With the telephone numbers in hand I began making calls, from one very helpful person to the next offering information that could be nothing but helpful. I made the decision to meet with one very capable, informative, and educated woman that actually made my dream happen. She helped me with the first application to a school that turned out not to be the correct fit for me, but she also gave me more phone numbers to people that would give me that much needed push to pick up the phone and continue with the search.
  I am now enrolled in college, fulfilling the so-called "long lost dream." Lifes research has taught me that if you actually apply yourself and learn from your mistakes, just maybe, if you're a hard worker, and you're not too stubborn to listen to those little hints, that might even come in the form of a letter in the mail; you can accomplish your dreams. Just do it, don't worry about the financial repercussions or at what age group society has lumped you into. Don't even worry about the estranged looks that a so-called friend my throw your way. Just do it for you.