
I wanted to share an article written for the Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus. This particular article is by Megan Rains. Megan works in the Columbus campus Financial Aid office. She is also a Harrison College (formerly Indiana Business College) graduate. She can recall being a student, wife, mother, and employee all too well. In fact, Megan is currently enrolled in classes in pursuit of yet another degree--so she understands the challenges many students attending adult education programs face.
Highway of Life
By Megan Rains
One of my favorite saying is, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.” As a young adult, I had so many plans; go to college, have a fabulous career, get married and raise a family and of course, live happily ever after. High school was a difficult time for me, not because of my classes but because I worked full time. I made decent grades, A’s, B’s, and C’s, but had I actually studied I would have made better ones. I graduated high school and decided that like so many graduates before me to take a little time off before college. A year without homework or classes sounded so nice.
I started working in a local factory a few months later. My year off became two and then I got married and had two children within the next three years. I would tell my husband, Frank, how much I wanted to go to school and get out of factory work. After listening to me for almost 8 years, Frank said in all his wisdom, “Quit talking about it and do it.”
I visited two other Columbus Indiana colleges, but no one wanted to sit down and discuss anything with me without me enrolling first. After getting frustrated and about to give up I turned down Poshard Drive and drove in front of this little building that looked like a factory with an Indiana Business College sign in front. I figured I might as well go in there as well; I didn’t have anything to lose.
When I walked through the door, Kelly Jones greeted me with a smile and asked how she could help. I have to admit I wasn’t in the best of moods and was really quite rude to her. I believe I said something along the lines of; I don’t want to enroll today. I just want some information. Within minutes I was sitting in an admissions office and discussing what I wanted and what I saw in my future. Scott, my admissions representative, did not pressure me or try to talk me into anything we talked for almost two hours. I left the building with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. Hope that I could do this and there was a college I would feel welcomed. I talked with my husband that night and returned to Indiana Business College the next day and enrolled.
Every class, every instructor and every student gave me encouragement and support to do this. I was working 50 to 60 hours a week in the factory and attending classes 2 nights a week. My children, ages 6 and 8, were involved in sports, school and church. My husband worked full time and had evening meetings at least twice a month. Needless to say we were a very busy family. I was very fortunate that Frank willingly became driver, tutor, cook and maid so I could do my homework and attend classes. By communicating with family about all the possible problems that could arise and prearranging childcare so if I ever needed it I would have it available, I graduated three years later with a degree in Accounting and a degree in Business Administration WITH HONORS
After 12 years of working in a factory, my long forgotten plans had become reality. I have a college degree, a wonderful career within Harrison College and a fantastic family but God gave me a few detours along the way. Life doesn’t just happen. We all make choices, some good and some bad, but each decision we make has a ripple affect on our lives. If we don’t make our own choices, they get made for us.
College isn’t easy, throw in children, husband and work on top and it can feel impossible. We see a snapshot of our past and our present. The future is only known by God and he has three answers to prayers: Yes, not yet, and I have something better planned. So I guess the point of all this rambling is, the journey we call life would be awfully dull without some hills and curves in it. Be the driver of your life, not a passenger. I can’t guarantee happily ever after but if you follow your heart, commit to the work and have faith, I can guarantee living happily in the present.