Dr. Brittany Barber is the Manager of the Cultural Center at 91制片厂. In this role, Dr. Barber ensures that the Cultural Center is a welcoming space for students, staff, and faculty that offers a full spectrum of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice programs, trainings, and resources.
It was 3 a.m., and I finally got my 2-year-old to sleep after a long bout of constipation. At 3:15 am, I started working on the final edits for a paper due the next day. Three years later, I walked across the stage with my degree as my oldest and my 1-year-old cheered me on. Nothing about parenthood (or life) will pause when you pursue the credentials you鈥檝e been considering. But here are three reasons why you should do it anyway.
Just stop and take inventory of everything you've been able to do. You figured out
how to have a conversation with your middle schooler. Pumped breast milk then made
it to the meeting on time. Worked a 12-hour shift but still made lunches for the next
day. Stopped your toddler from having splash time in the toilet. Returned a call from
the principal then led a team training. Dropped off your kid at their first dance
in an outfit they picked out by themselves. Learned the latest dance on TikTok and
listened to your child question why so-and-so can do it but they can鈥檛鈥攆or the fifth
time this week. You do difficult things daily, and pursuing a degree or certificate
would be no exception.
There's no perfect time to go back to school. The stars won鈥檛 align. All the answers
won鈥檛 be there. The nerves you feel when you click 鈥渞egister鈥� for classes may never
waver. But don鈥檛 wait for that hypothetical later that may never come. My mother told
me that my grandmother kept boxes of money around the house. She called it her 鈥渞ainy
day fund,鈥� money she was waiting to spend on a rainy day鈥攋ust because. My grandmother
ended up passing away while my mother was young and never took a 鈥渏ust because鈥� day
to use the money she had been saving. We so easily give credit to tomorrow, as if
today doesn鈥檛 carry its own gifts. If you can do it now, do it.
The birth of my second child was much faster than any of us anticipated, including the medical team. By the time I got to the hospital, there wasn鈥檛 time for an epidural. Realizing I was about to feel everything, I felt terrified. But the nurse grabbed my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, 鈥淟isten. This is going to hurt. And then it won鈥檛.鈥� Getting that degree or certificate is going to hurt at times. And then one day鈥t won鈥檛.
Here's to you having a stronger will than a child fighting sleep. Here鈥檚 to you starting and finishing because, yes鈥�you can do this.
Originally Published Apr 17, 2024