One of my best decisions.

I definitely do not think that further education is the best choice for everyone but for those who believe they are incapable, let me just say that you are…

After my undergraduate education, I was "burnt out" on education, ready to walk away and never look back. I told myself I wasn't intelligent enough to do well in school, especially not at the upper levels of academia. I saw myself as of average intelligence or less.

I worked as a full-time salesperson for a year before beginning my Master's program. Although looking back, the transition between these two roles was not as smooth as the sentence makes it sound. I struggled, was unfulfilled, and was unsure of what I wanted to do with my life.

Halfway through my first year of sales, I was allowed to assist in a research project, which sparked something in me. I truly enjoyed how the research was designed, the excitement of discoveries that could be made, and the interesting peers I was working with.

As the research continued, I became increasingly convinced of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I had found my passion. However, discovering my passion did not change anything about the direction of my life on its own.

It took me a year of soul-searching, a lot of convincing, and multiple mentors who believed in me for me to begin the journey that I am now on.

Today, I have completed my Master's program and am now in a Ph.D. program. In this role, I am constantly challenged and learning new things daily.

Overcoming challenging classes and completing large research projects has helped me understand that my inability to achieve in my undergraduate program was due to my self-limiting thoughts and choosing not to apply myself.

I have come to realize that much is possible with effort, focus, and determination. And someone believing in you can give you the extra push you need to make a positive change. I am so grateful that I decided to go back to school. It's one of the best decisions I've made.