Why I Chose my University Degree

Another installment from my "What to Blog about" list. I guess I'll have to do a two-parter since I officially have a degree and 1/2 or to be completely accurate, I have a degree and 63/100 of another. That's the accountant coming out in me and I guess the teacher too explaining all aspects of the subject. Anyway, on to the subject.


I have a degree in Elementary Education. I received it in May 2002 from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. When I first went to college after high school, my heart wasn't in it. I put my major as nursing, although I didn't feel too strongly about it. After only lasting a semester, I dropped out. My grades were crap and I just didn't care. I was a college dropout for three and a half years. I worked during that time and knew all along I would return to college....I just didn't know when or what for. In the Fall of 1998, I got called by the local elementary school to come and substitute. From the very first time I did it, I was hooked on teaching. I decided it was time to return to college and that I was going to be a teacher. I began the process of reapplying to school. It was quite a task to undertake because I had been placed on academic probation from my grades before. I had to write a letter to the dean to tell him how much I really wanted to return to school and my mind was right this time. I had to do the same thing in order to be eligible for financial aid. My letters were well received and I was accepted for the Spring 1999 semester at SWOSU. My brother-in-law at the time was a student there at the same time and he was going to be a special education teacher, so we were enrolled in many of the same classes. We set up our schedules together and rode to and from school together everyday. I made excellent grades this time and really enjoyed my time as a student. I wanted to be a teacher because I believe God gave me some gifts that make me really good as a teacher. I am very encouraging and loving. I had always been a good student myself (except for that one terrible semester in my first college outing) and enjoyed learning and figured I could pass that on to my students. I chose to be a teacher because I liked the fact that I would have good working hours and would have my summers free. I was always patient with school kids and liked to see them learning. When I graduated in 2002, I applied at about 20 metro districts. I got called by only two of them and had only one actual interview. The school's budgets were down at that time and many districts weren't hiring and some were even firing. By the middle of August, I didn't have a teaching job and knew I had to find something else. I would look again next year for a teaching job. I got a job at a payroll place that I absolutely hated. I worked there for six months before moving to a job I really liked. I worked one other job before I got the job I have currently. I currently work as an auditor for schools and non-profit organizations. I've always liked accounting and had some background since I had helped my sister out at her accounting job several tax seasons. In August of 2006, I decided to return to school to ultimately get my CPA license. I didn't obtain a degreen in accounting basically because I didn't need one to become a CPA. Because I already had a Bachelor's Degree, I only needed 150 hours total and 45 hours in accounting. That's what I have achieved. I currently have 173 college hours, with 45 of those in accounting. I have satisfied the requirements to sit for the CPA exam. I am currently studying to take the first part of the exam(there are four). I am not too motivated at this point as my brain needed a break from the studying and I really need someone to study with to hold me accountable. It's hard to carve out time when you work full time and have two kids. I'll get it done though....I always do what I say I'm going to do. Just a little slower sometimes.

I feel I am well-suited in both Elementary Education and Accounting. Heck, maybe I'll teach Accounting someday. Then I can combine the two. For now I'm a CPA candidate and I hope to achieve that license soon.