One question I get asked a lot, besides “What’s your major?” is “Why psychology?” And honestly, psychology has been more of an interesting subject to me the older I get. When I took Gen Psych, I was instantly hooked and absolutely obsessed. That lead to Abnormal Psych and most recently, Growth and Developmental Psych. But why psych?
When I initially started this journey of going back to school, I had this idea that I was going to be a Registered Nurse (with an ADN), then a BSN, then what’s called a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I had the program I wanted to take scouted (Hello, beautiful NOLA!), I knew how long it would take, and I had a dream of really impacting the field of mental health.
My first semester, I had a full schedule with 5 classes. Coupled with the fact that I was trying to work and be a wife, it was a nightmare. This was in 2022, and the first time I failed anatomy and physiology. Please understand that I am a very good student. I absolutely love being in a classroom, I love learning about almost any subject, and I thought if I could hurry up and knock my prereqs out (it had been so long since I had been in high school, some of those credits had expired), then I’d be one step close to where I was called to be.
My second semester, I had 3 classes and was considered “part-time.” It was a lot easier to manage the course work, but life happened and I took an incomplete on two of them in the spring and finished in the summer. This time, I got a “D” in Anatomy.
I took a break for a year. Stepped back and really thought about what it was I wanted and my goals and reasons why I was doing what I was doing. I decided I would try to take this class one more time. If I was really meant to be on this path, then things would work themselves out. I only needed a “C” to go on to the next class. When I went back this past summer, I knew it was now or never. I would not go back at all if I didn’t seize that moment and try one more time. So I did. Once again, life happened and I came out with another “D”.
I want you guys to know that I’ve had some pretty major turning points in my life. The day I decided to leave my ex-husband, the day I heard God’s voice for the first time, the day I knew that I’d never be a fully qualified nurse. And let me tell you, at least for me, when there’s a turning point, it generally comes with some kind of heartbreak. Knowing I’d never be a fully qualified nurse was devastating. I truly felt called to go back to school, to invest the time and effort required to get the degree, to create the planning strategies to get me through it. I came home from that final so broken-hearted and disappointed in myself. Then a conversation with my mother changed everything.
She had told me from the beginning that Anatomy was a hard subject, and she tried to help me study (when I’d ask for help). And she was so great in this moment of doubt and despair. She asked why I was so upset. And I told her. This was my future at stake. I’d invested so much into this, sacrificed so much for this. And it was just falling apart. Then she asked a question that I didn’t even think about. When I tell you it changed everything… She asked, “Why do you think this is the only way to fulfill the calling?” Wait…What? “Well, you really like psychology. You’re really interested in it. So do what you were going to do, just as a psychologist.” Wait…What??
I hadn’t considered since I’d started this journey that I could pursue a degree in psychology. But it made so much sense! So I made an appointment with my advisor, changed my major, and resigned myself to another 2 years of school (remember, I’m 3 semesters into a 2 year degree at this point – my degree should almost be complete!) My advisor was so great though! All of my credits from the nursing prereqs transferred, I had 12 classes to completion, and I just knocked 6 of them out this semester. I have 6 more classes standing between me and an Associates.
So what’s next? I can’t really do anything with a general Associates. I’m looking at transferring the degree to a local 4 year university to pursue the Bachelor’s. And I know that some people are going to ask “Why didn’t you just start over at a 4 year university to begin with? Why waste the time with a 2 year degree that you can’t use?” Because the community college was offering free tuition – I haven’t had to pay for a single credit hour the entire time I’ve been on this journey. I figured if I had to drop out or wasn’t into it anymore, it would make the most financial sense to take advantage of the opportunity.
I’m so thankful that this opportunity opened up when it did and that I was able to take advantage of it. I’d tell anyone looking to go back or to start fresh two things: 1) You can do it (most important) and 2) Look for local campuses that might have similar opportunities.
Until next time,
-Katie
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