As a nontraditional student, I often find myself caught between two worlds: where I am and where I desperately want to be. I’m in the final stretch of my business degree with just over a year to go, but my ambitious side often whispers, “You should already be there.” There, for me, means working in the accounting field, building experience, and laying the groundwork for eventually owning my own firm. It’s a vision that excites me—but also tests my patience daily.

As the year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what’s contributed most to my personal and professional growth over the past twelve months. One thing stands out above all else is my willingness to put myself out there and share my goals and desires with others.

As the year comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the challenges and lessons I’ve experienced. This has been a year of change, growth, and more than anything, patience—a quality I never realized I needed to cultivate until life demanded it.

As the final few weeks of this semester wind down, I’ve been reflecting on how far I’ve come on this journey as a nontraditional college student. The hard work, late nights, and countless hours of studying are paying off in a big way, and I couldn’t wait to share the exciting news… I landed my dream internship, ya’ll!

This time last year, I was diving into a brand-new adventure—going back to college after 13 years of professional work in the dance and fitness industries. And to make things even more interesting, I was doing it while being a full-time stay-at-home parent to an infant, a year later, here’s what I’ve learned...