GainesvilleMoms.com

Today I am registering for my last semester of classes at UF! Woo-hoo! But it is somewhat bittersweet. I am so excited to finish, but for some weird reason, I actually enjoy school, especially the certainty of it. It was nice knowing that at the end of each semester, all I had to do was register for another one. But after graduation, nothing is certain.

So what's next? I'm not sure. So I want to hear your stories. Are you doing what you always planned you'd do (despite going to college or not)? Are you in a totally different career than you planned? What about stay-at-home moms? Did you always know this is what you wanted to do?

After high school I attended 1 1/2 semesters of college. I was married in between my senior year of high school and starting college. Hubby had a good job and we knew that we'd get better financial aid if we claimed his income versus my Dad's. We got the itch to move after a short time though.

After we moved I went through a temp agency on site at the same company hubby worked for. I found out that I loved being an administrative assistant. I love learning new computer programs and "running" an office. After J was born, I decided since this company couldn't bring me on permanently, I would stay home with her for a while. That while turned in to two years. After she turned one, I was ready for a job, but the economy had soured and there were just too many experienced people competing for jobs. I was finally able to jump back in when she turned 2.

I now have 4 years of administrative assistant/office management experience and I can't hardly land an interview much less a job. I'm finding that the Gainesville job market is difficult to crack unless you happen to know the right people. I'm hoping that after the first of the year, there might be more openings available.

Hubby on the other hand, he's always wanted to be an IT guy and always has been. Since he is in a specialized field, he's never had too much difficulty finding jobs.

Congratulations Stacy!! One of my biggest accomplishments was graduating from college. I was so excited, but totally understand the bittersweet feeling and uncertainty of what the future will bring.

I am not doing anything near what I thought I would be doing once I graduated. I have a BA in Psychology, and always thought I would get my masters right away, and then become a Child Psychologist. I am currently working for UF in the College of Education as an advisor per se. I guess in a way I am counseling kids, but not on the level that I thought I would be. Working with students I find that I really am helping them though in some way. Now my plan is to eventually get my masters degree and maybe someday teach. It is crazy how things work out. When I had my son I really thought I wanted to stay home with him, but after 3 months I just knew I couldn't do it. I think I am a better mom personally when I work outside of the home.

I always planned to go to college, but honestly life happened and I never got to finish. I went to Bible college for almost 3 years, but ended up quitting with my Associate to get married. While my husband was working on his Master's we started a family. I always wanted to be a school teacher so I could have the same schedule as my kids and spend the most time with them (just like my mom did). Well, little did I know that not only would I get to stay at home with them, but I am their teacher too! I never was a career-minded person and always just wanted to be a wife and mother. I think it's the best investment of my time and I am thrilled to be able to do it. I feel very blessed. It does get very hard sometimes and I do miss the adult interaction in the work place, but I know there will be time for that in the future. Hopefully one day I will get to go back to school (maybe with my kids?). But for now I am very content where I am in life.

hhhmmm? I often ask my self this same question, ha "how did I get here?"
I have always been kind of the free spirit type moderately, but when ever I decide or am inspired I do whatever it is that I want (does that make any sense?)
I met my husband just before he was leaving town for college in Tampa, so we dated a year long distance, then I moved there. While I was still in college I had a huge desire to be a mom , we had been married for 3 yrs by now, so we had a baby- and now I'm in my last year at UF as an English major with a minor in teaching. So soon I will be an English teacher, I did not know that this road would take me here but I'm doing all the things I have only recently learned that I truly love! I never thought that I would want to be an English teacher but when I think about it, it really makes sense and it has become something that I love and can't get enough of-- so strange. Also, I love being a mom but I always knew I would love that, but it is even greater- Now if I could just decide when to have another one!! - I guess in short, I just follow my heart. -Amanda.

Well...lol...do u really want to know?

I did go to collge back in the early-mid 80's and was studying Elementary education and Media tenchology. Due to the cost I could not finish. was quite disappointing.

I went back to college 10 years later and took on Administration Administration and Media Technology. I graduated in 1993.

In between that I time, i worked as private duty nursing and a cna in a nursing home. Of course I could NOT figure out why I was doing that. After all, it was NOT my goal or dreams. But I was doing it.

It was not until after a few years after Tim's diagnosis of his Muscular dystrophy and after a surgery he had that it dawned on me. (Like duh!!) All those years I was working as a CNA/private duty nursing was to prepare me for Tim.

About the time Tim was Diagnosis w/ the MD, I was working for a Medical Billing MSO. I did so for many years, even after Tim's dx.

All-not in my plans, but ended up doing it. Now I'm his 24/7 caregiver.

Its amazing how we all end up doing something not related to our education and degree. I had a roomate in collge who got her nursing degree while working on her journalism degree. she ended up working as a nurse even if she really wanted to be journalism.

Sometimes, we have to accept whatever it is God has for us...even if it is not in our plans! LOL

Stacey congratulations on your accomplishment! Being a Mom and finishing college at the same time makes it even that much more of an accomplishment! In college I could not wait to land a "real job" and start “climbing the ladder”! For some reason, I was extremely focused in what I wanted. Not necessarily in what field, just that I wanted to advance through the management ranks quickly and land in a position (w/ a large company) where I had a lot of freedom and autonomy to create and implement something that would add value to a large organization. I put in my hard time proving myself to countless managers and am benefitting from it now. I have only worked for two companies (since college) and both have been extremely large organizations. I would say that I am very happy where I am and in the position I am in. While the field is not what I planned (Human Resources) I am at the exact level that I wanted to be at by this age. I did luck out and land in a company that is very progressive and family friendly, so it blends well w/ raising a family. I feel fortunate, beyond words, to be where I am and have the family I have. I wish you the same !!!!

I went to college to be a teacher. I got my Bachelors, but needed a break. I figured I'd go back for my masters after a year or so. My mom said if you quit now, it is so hard to go back, especially once kids come into the picture. I taught and subbed in public schools for two years. I didn't really enjoy it a lot for various reasons, and realized that I shouldn't have changed my major from Accounting in college. We moved, my daughter was born, and then I started teaching at a nonprofit Christian academy. This was much better than the public schools, and I taught there for about 5 years. Then when we moved back to Gainesville, I started homeschooling. So in a way I am using my degree, but I think I would have been just as well or better off if I had stuck with the accounting instead of changing to education.

It is so comforting to hear all of your stories. Lately I've been feeling like I have to make a plan for the rest of my life, step by step, right at this very moment. But it seems like you all just went wherever life took you. Maybe graduating will help me work on my flexibility and patience! lol

I guess as long as I'm always happy doing what I'm doing, that's all that really matters. Thanks for sharing your stories!