My decision to enroll in college wasn't easily made. I labored for months with the thousand questions of "where will I go", "what will I do", and "how will I pay for it?!"
I toured a world-renowned culinary school, but decided not to apply after an admissions officer called my house seven times in two days to "remind me" to pay the $100 application fee. I didn't even fill out the application, much less pay the fee.
I toured an cosmetology center near my home, and while I like what I saw, I simply didn't feel that pull of, THIS is what I want to do.
I eventually found that pull at a local community college. So small that the entire campus is contained within ONE building, so small that my fears of higher education finally began to disappear. But I was faced with a decision that was as monumentally as tough as deciding to GO to school.
What about my son?
My child, my baby, my three year old, my "never been in organized childcare" offspring! What would become of him?!
My answer came contained within the walls of the same local community college. Through the very doors I would cross through to receive a higher education, I could deposit my son with certified, compassionate, clean individuals.
Because the college campus is all one building, and the Children's Learning Center is centrally located, I would essentially never be more than 100 yards away from my little guy at any given time. And for a stay at home mom turned full time student, this settled 1000 irrational fears.
So we enrolled. I, for the college classes, and my three year old for the Childcare classes. Both accepted, both given schedules and pamphlets of information, we were good to go! And when the first day of school came around, the transition was smooth as glass. My son tore from our clutched hands and into the world of possibilities of sandboxes, picture books, and finger paints. I can peek in on his pre-school class in between my own classes. The teacher's know my name, his name, our story, and everything in between. It is simply perfect.
Seven months into a higher education, and my son and I are still at ease with our days. School days are looked forward to, entertaining once they arrive, and fondly thought of on the weekends. I could not ask for a better situation.
