It's never too late.

16 years later than I intended, I finally achieved my goal.

Life can throw us curve balls and disrupt our plans, but it doesn’t mean we have to forget about them completely.? While I dealt with a few life challenges along the way, after a very long detour, I am happy to share that I earned my Professional Master of Business Administration and a certificate in Leadership Formation from Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University .

The road to grad school took longer than planned, and once I got there, I recognized my journey was going to continue to be tough.? Early on I had several moments of self-doubt when my own “imposter monster” would make an appearance, causing me to question whether I belonged there.? Working full time and juggling school part time for two straight years was exhausting and more difficult than I expected.? I’d be lying if I said that the thought of quitting never entered my mind, but I continued pushing forward.? Once I hit the one-year mark, I realized I was already halfway done.? I knew that part of me would always regret not finishing (not to mention I am one of those who suffers from “completion compulsion”!), so I fully committed to keep going.

Three key lessons I took from grad school:

1. To shift or not to shift? Returning to school was an opportunity for me to determine whether I wanted to shift careers and do something else.? It did not take me long to have that question answered, as I quickly affirmed that I indeed like what I do and don’t want to change careers.? Learning and development is the right path for me.? Although an MBA isn’t a typical course of study for someone in L&D, this doesn’t mean that my degree was irrelevant or useless.? This was an opportunity to add even more skills to my toolbox and focus on leadership development.? Working in corporate training and having a comprehensive understanding of how business operates helps me be a better leader and business partner who can align learning strategy with organizational goals and priorities and help solve tough problems.?
2. The power of pausing. I recognized that there was value in me waiting to return to school, even longer than I expected.? I had tons of work experience under my belt, and I discovered that was hard earned knowledge that I could readily apply in the classroom.? I could relate to many of the concepts and examples we discussed that some of the newer professionals had yet to encounter.
3. It’s never too late to do anything.? No matter what the motivation or reason is--and sometimes those change--if it’s something that is important to me and aligns with my values, then by all means, go do it.

I am proud of my accomplishment and I’m glad I saw it through to the end.? It’s funny how things often work out the right way at the right time, even if we don’t necessarily recognize it initially.? However, I know now this was the right time for me to earn my MBA, and I made the most of it.? The study tours to India and Guatemala were the best part of my program and I am privileged to have had the opportunity to personally experience these dynamic cultures and countries.? My decision to participate in the Albers Mentor Program both years proved to be a valuable investment, and I was fortunate to be mentored by two wonderful women executives who were generous with their time and with sharing their wisdom and lessons learned over their impressive careers.

I am also filled with gratitude. I’m grateful for my cohort and for the friendships I forged with my classmates.? I’m grateful for my professors—a few familiar and many new to me—who challenged, inspired, and supported my learning journey.? And to my current and former colleagues, friends, and family, I appreciate you more than I can possibly say.? Thank you for your support! ?