It’s never too late to pursue your dreams

By Darcie Orr, Manager, Procurement | CPSM | MBA, Duquesne Light Company

I was 38 years old when I walked into my first classroom at the University of Pittsburgh to begin my Master’s degree. It had been nearly two decades since I wore a cap and gown and walked the stage at Penn State for undergrad. How had I gotten here? What was I thinking? Then I thought of my mom, and I took a deep breath, knowing that if she could do it, I could do it.
 
My mother graduated from high school in 1969. Women couldn’t take out a student loan at that time without their fathers cosigning it. Unwilling to let her take on debt for schooling that she “didn’t need,” my grandfather refused to cosign a loan. So, my mom worked hard to save enough to pay for one year of tuition (and room and board) following high school. After her first year in college, she went back to work. She continued this cycle of one year of working, and one year of schooling until she met my father. They decided to get married and buy a house, and her dream of graduating from college ended…temporarily, anyway.
 
Fifteen years later, when my sister and I were in elementary school, my mom decided to finish her degree. Remarkably, nearly all of her (ancient, as she called them) credits transferred to California University (now Penn West). Not wanting to take on debt (old habits die hard, I suppose), she used her skills as a seamstress to pay for school. She took on hemming, mending, and occasionally making a wedding dress and socked away the cash to pay for the six credits she took each semester. Taking classes during the day, while my sister and I were in school, she was typically the only “adult” student among a sea of students who were 20+ years younger. It took her six years to finish what would have been her last two years of a four-year degree, but she did it.
 
What are my takeaways from this invaluable life lesson?

• If you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to do it. Always.
• There’s nothing you can’t do if you truly set your mind to it.
• We should all have a “life skill” outside of what we do “for work.” My mom could sew. (She made her prom dress in high school!!) That allowed her to make money to help fund her classes. We live in an age where these skills are fading fast, and sometimes they can serve you well. 

 
Getting back to me and my cold sweats as I entered my first classroom in nearly two decades - how had I gotten there? I graduated from Penn State, got a job, and never intended to return to school for a graduate degree. Until one day, I was asked to participate in the hiring process for my peer position at work.
 
What you need to understand about me is I’m competitive. If I did 15 minutes on the stair climber yesterday, I want to do 20 today. If someone did 20 minutes today, I want to do 25 tomorrow. So, as I was reviewing stacks of resumes, I realized that most candidates had an MBA – something I didn’t have. If I ever wanted to leave my current employer and seek a position elsewhere, I’d be competing with candidates with their MBA, (blasphemy!) and they’d have a leg up on me (GASP)!
 
I called our HR department that very day to see what tuition reimbursement was offered. I hired a tutor to help me prepare for the entrance exam. I was accepted and registered for my first classes. There I was, a student again.
 
As I began to prepare to go back to school, and then once I entered the classroom, I was terrified. I felt so out of place, which got me thinking about my mom. If she did it, I knew I could do it too.
 
You are never too old or too far down the road to continue learning. If you are considering going back to school for any level of degree, I encourage you try to do it!
 
Below are some helpful tips I gathered along the way throughout my time as a nontraditional student:
 

1. Don’t be afraid to change your position on a topic. Sometimes it’s good to hold to your beliefs, but sometimes you have to be honest with yourself, reevaluate, and see if maybe swallowing some pride and changing your opinion is the right thing to do.
2. Be smart about student loans. Take what you need and defer the rest. Consider speaking with a financial advisor to help sort out your loans to ensure you’re taking only what you need.
3. Use your tuition reimbursement if it’s available to you. If you can find an employer who will give you something back for education, that’s a win. Consider spreading your classes over a more extended period of time. Most companies are willing to make an annual contribution to your schooling.
4. Build a network of quality, reliable people. In grad school, every class had group work. I was fortunate to meet a few folks with different backgrounds and strengths, meaning we filled in the gaps for one another. Once you begin your program, connect with your classmates and make sure you’re on the same page when starting a group assignment.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many of you considering returning to school or beginning this journey might be working full-time with kids at home or relatives to care for. If you need help, ask those around you to chip in and make it work. Juggling it all can be challenging, but that’s why we have friends, family, and neighbors to help us along the way.
6. The outcome needs to justify the effort. Beginning or finishing a degree is a big commitment. Evaluate how much effort you’ll need to put in and consider the benefits. Make sure the pay-off is worth the buy-in.

 
I finished my MBA in May of 2020, so there was no pomp and circumstance (literally). However, on the very last day of my very last class, with only 20 minutes or so remaining in the Zoom meeting, I got a knock at my door. I answered it to find a flower arrangement sitting just outside it. The card said “I knew you could do it! Love, Mom.” And for that, I say thanks, mom, for the courage and inspiration.

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