On December 18th, I’ll graduate from Harrisburg Area Community College with my Associate’s Degree in Business Studies. It’s about time.

I graduated from high school in 2002, and went straight into college at Penn State University, York Campus, intending to study Advertising/Public Relations. I was disappointed after not getting accepted into Northwestern University’s Journalism programmed, so I settled. A few months into my first semester, I realized that by settling, I wasn’t progressing in my studies. I missed music, I missed my band geek lifestyle from high school. I had done well at Tuba performance, so maybe that was what I was missing?

I researched music degrees that were non-teaching, and discovered Music Therapy. It was a great combination of music studies, and helping others without having to teach. Montclair State University in NJ offered the program, and their Music Director was president of the International Tuba & Euphonium Society! It was a perfect fit. I auditioned and was accepted, so the second semester of my first year in college, I attended Montclair.

By May and the end of the semester, I knew it wasn’t going to work out. I wasn’t studious or dedicated enough in music to make it my career. It was my hobby and was intended to stay just as that. I dropped out.

I went home, found a full time job, and floundered.

1.5 years later I returned to college at HACC, enrolling in their Travel and Tourism program with the intention of completing a degree to be a travel agent. I loved to travel. I caught up on my general education courses, and attended for 3 semesters, two part time, and one INSANE full time while working.

I moved to Montana. I had always wanted to. I applied to University of Montana for their Recreational Management degree in their College of Forestry and Conservation. I was accepted. I figured I’d work doing activities in Parks, how cool would that be?

I got engaged, I moved back to Pennsylvania.

No degree.

I finally decided to finish some degree, ANY degree, so I met with my counselor back at HACC in 2008, and enrolled in the Fall 2008 semester to finish my degree in Business Studies. It was a degree that would take almost all my credits from my various colleges and help me to complete SOMETHING.

Kevin got sick. I had to drop out before I even began.

After Kevin died, it was a now or never thought. The year after he passed, I enrolled in courses and now, a year later, I am finally completing my degree. A degree. Something to recognize the years of changes, moves, fluctuations and uncertainties.

I’ve always been “smart”-an A/B student who works hard to do well. School never came easy, but I was always determined to at least do well at what I was working on. I could just never seem to find the fit. I am good and enjoy so many activities, how do you choose just one?

So here I am, about to finally receive my diploma, and I still have no clue what to do with it.