GRADUATION AROUND THE NATION 2009
A Long Road to Graduation
By Susan Randell
Getting my degree was a long-term goal of mine. Little did I realize how long the term would be. It was a journey that started in New York, continued in New Jersey and ended in Florida. When I graduated high school, getting my degree was not a priority; I was a non-matriculated night student taking whatever course sounded interesting at the moment. Two years after Art and I married, I stopped. Both my children were born in New Jersey and when my son was three months old and my daughter was two and a half I decided to go back and get my Associate’s Degree. I did not finish because we moved to Florida. However, much to my surprise I found I was getting straight A’s.
I had very bad rheumatoid arthritis, which I got when I was pregnant with my daughter. After living in Florida for about a year or so, the arthritis started to go into remission and I decided to go back to work. I had worked in the stock market in New York so when I saw a job that would keep me involved, I jumped at the opportunity. I was fortunate enough to manage a stock market research department and work with a well-known market leader. The company published nine stock market publications and a national magazine. Time Warner purchased the company and one by one they closed down the publications and moved the magazine to New York. About a year before we were downsized, I saw the handwriting on the wall and returned to school to get my Paralegal Certificate. With a newly minted Paralegal Certificate, I worked as an Immigration Paralegal bringing foreign nurses into the United Sates. I loved the Paralegal program and decided since I was in a school and study mode I would complete my Associate’s Degree. In 2001 I finished with a 3.88. Some say “get an education and you will get a good job”. I did it in reverse – I had a great job and then went back and got my formal education. Since I had just started a new career as an Internal Auditor, I thought there was no time like the present to finish my Bachelors degree. I returned to school in 2006 and earned my B.S. in business with a concentration in Finance 3.82 GPA. I could not have done it without the support of my husband Art. I worked crazy hours and traveled, and he cleared my time when I was home so I could study for tests, work on projects and write papers. It was truly a joint effort and he was encouraging and supportive all the way. My graduation was amazing, the house was decorated, both our children with some family and friends celebrated. It was a day to remember. What’s next? Industry certifications? Who knows after that, maybe I’ll retire, only kidding!#
