College as part of a life long journey

Growing up I had little hope of a good education. The women in the family never went to college. I always wanted a college education, however, my family held the view that the key to a successful life is working hard and having a family. Through experience
, I have found hard work and a family are part of success and happiness. The two, however, are only part of the whole; education has a role to play in the success and happiness. For me, going to college is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, one that has shaped my decisions and will continue to do so in the future.
As a teenager, I worked in the family business during the summers. At the time, I was not aware that this was going to be my future career. I have been working at the family business and have had relative success through the years. During this time, I have married, had children, and divorced. All this time my dream of going to college and travelling the world continued to flourish. My dream of going to college only grew stronger with time because I had the desire of breaking the family cycle of limiting women from going to college. I also wanted to develop my skills and better manage the family business. By going to college, I would serve as an example to the young girls in the family. This would inspire them to aspire higher than the family expects of them.
My grandmother has been most instrumental in my development and actualization of this lifelong dream and journey. She passed before I could tell her of the great news of me joining college. Through her tough love and advice, she enabled me to make those tough choices. Her perspective on life continues to inspire me even as I pursue my college degree. The final push that enabled me to join college happened after I moved in with my boyfriend of 12 years. While jogging one morning I came across a university, East Tennessee State University. This just brought the college dream right to focus. I called my grandmother who encouraged me to join the university saying young friends would help me remain young.
After the encouragement from my grandmother, I went to the college to talk to the advisor. I told the advisor I was seeking an executive MBA program that would build upon the business knowledge I have. This would help me become more current and relevant to the current economy. This would enable me to manage the family business better. On January this year, I began my college studies. At first, it all seemed too easy until I was overwhelmed with school studies. Managing my time is the most challenging aspect of my new schedule. I struggle with endless nights of studying, writing, and reading large volumes of material. I also have to find time for my boyfriend and children. I find myself working harder than my classmates do. This is probably because they are just out of high school or have been studying for a while. College life is not all studying; I have had the chance to make new and younger friends.
The first day I visited the university to talk to the advisor, I was very nervous. The nervousness, however, disappears after attending college the first few days. With studying, come many opportunities that expose one to large volumes of information on many subjects and help shape thinking. Some limitations come with attending college. This includes a set timetable, which limits travelling. This was a challenge for me, especially the first few weeks because I love travelling to new places.
For me being a college student is dream come true. Through the interactions with people and my family and friends, I have been able to achieve this dream. What remains is my input to ensure that I do not only attend college, but also graduate with honors. My hard work and long nights of studying are paying off. A few weeks after closing for the spring break, I reached a letter informing me that I am in the deans list. This is a great achievement for me. I draw my inspiration from my professors, who are knowledgeable in their fields. Every day I wake up in the morning and continue living this dream I so longed for.