Stacy Shuey is about to return to school to begin working toward an Associate of Science degree (A.S.) program in Graphic Design at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She is both excited and terrified about starting college.
When she graduated from high school, she lacked the motivation and support she needed to go on to college. Her environment and life circumstances taught her that striving for her dreams would be futile. However, as she watched others work toward their dreams, she was reminded of her own dreams. Even though she saw others fail at times while attempting to reach their goals, she was inspired by watching them try. She began to want to achieve more.
Ultimately, Mrs. Shuey decided to go back to school because she wanted better for herself and her family. She wanted to have a career that could help her feel fulfilled and and help to provide for her family. In addition, she wanted to set a good example for her daughter. She wanted to show her daughter that it is important to strive for what you want.
Before deciding where to enroll, Mrs. Shuey researched several colleges. She selected The Art Institute of Pittsburgh for several reasons. First, she like they offer challenging courses. Beyond wanting to prepare for a career, she is eager to learn all that she can. Second, their schedules are very flexible. This is important to her because as an adult student, she has other obligations that must be balanced along with college coursework. Third, the school is regionally accredited. Regional accreditation is important to her because she knows it connotes a high standard in education.
While Mrs. Shuey is not certain of exactly what job she will pursue after completing her program she does know that she wants to incorporate her artistic skills into whatever she does. Her interests include design, web development, and interactive media. She wants to keep her options open and continue to research the field before she makes a commitment.
Mrs. Shuey is researching potential jobs she might be interested in pursuing when she completes her program. She is investigating the required qualifications, job duties, and potential salaries. After completing her initial research she became confident she will be able to obtain a position in her field that she enjoys. While she may have to begin with an entry-level position, she believes that when she gains experience in her career field combined with her education, she will be able to advance within her field.
Despite having some fear about returning to school (as new students often have), she is very excited to begin this phase in her life. She already feels a sense of accomplishment for taking the steps to begin. Her sense of accomplishment is likely to increase as she completes more milestones along her journey.
Image provided by Stacy Shuey. All image rights belong to Mrs. Shuey.
