My name is Mary, I'm 53 years old and living the American Dream! I have to keep telling myself that,things have sure changed.
Less than a year ago, the company I had been employed with for 25 years shut down. The business had been affected way before the rest of the world. We were Pet Supply wholesalers. When the box stores moved in back in the 90's (pet smart, pet co) the mom and pop stores started to suffer. One by one we watched them go away. Its just like everything else, the corporations put all the little guys out. Our little family owned business was also gone.
So now, what was I to do? My skills were so out of date. As I started my job search, reality set in. What kind of a job would I qualify for? That's when I knew I needed a new start. Wow! A new start a 53 years old.
In January of 2009, I started attending school at GRCC. When I started my confidence level was good. Soon after it was gone. Things have sure changed. My biggest challenge was the computers. While I was selecting next months dog toys, the world was passing me by.
That brings us to now. I'm doing this blog for a class that I'm taking this summer. I'm in my third quarter, and things are getting better. My instructors are wonderful this quarter. Very supportive and helpful. Last quarter was a nightmare ( do research on the instructor). They should also have a class on financial aid. So many hoops to jump through, and you never get the same answer. They almost make you feel like your in a welfare line. You are at their mercy.
Then I started to wonder, why did I take classes during the summer? I could have taken the summer off for the first time in who knows how many years. Then I remembered why. The American Dream? Am I forgetting that no matter where I am in life how blessed I am?
Less than a year ago, the company I had been employed with for 25 years shut down. The business had been affected way before the rest of the world. We were Pet Supply wholesalers. When the box stores moved in back in the 90's (pet smart, pet co) the mom and pop stores started to suffer. One by one we watched them go away. Its just like everything else, the corporations put all the little guys out. Our little family owned business was also gone.
So now, what was I to do? My skills were so out of date. As I started my job search, reality set in. What kind of a job would I qualify for? That's when I knew I needed a new start. Wow! A new start a 53 years old.
In January of 2009, I started attending school at GRCC. When I started my confidence level was good. Soon after it was gone. Things have sure changed. My biggest challenge was the computers. While I was selecting next months dog toys, the world was passing me by.
That brings us to now. I'm doing this blog for a class that I'm taking this summer. I'm in my third quarter, and things are getting better. My instructors are wonderful this quarter. Very supportive and helpful. Last quarter was a nightmare ( do research on the instructor). They should also have a class on financial aid. So many hoops to jump through, and you never get the same answer. They almost make you feel like your in a welfare line. You are at their mercy.
Then I started to wonder, why did I take classes during the summer? I could have taken the summer off for the first time in who knows how many years. Then I remembered why. The American Dream? Am I forgetting that no matter where I am in life how blessed I am?
