Business School

In 7 weeks and 2 days I will be beginning my designation through CPA Western School of Business. This feels surreal....it has been almost 12 years in the making and I am both surprised it took this long and surprised it is right around the corner. When I started uni I had a loose 5 year plan...40 courses, 8 per year...but life happened and I don't know that I had a single year with that robust a course load. Some years it was much less, maybe 1 or 2 courses.

When I started I was 22, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to take on the world! And I am grateful for that version of myself all the time because I worry if I was to start today I would talk myself out of something this ambitious. 6/7 years of full time school....what will end up being about 13-14 at a part time pace. It is a lot, and at times it has been hard to keep myself invested in it.

So to be here, to be approaching the beginning of my final educational milestone in this journey, I want to post about some of the people that have kept me going on this path.

My husband. When I have wanted to quit or scale down my goals he has reminded me how badly I want this, When I have had a deadline or have had to work tax season hours with courses on the go, he has made me dinner, he has kept up the house, he has kept me in clean underwear, and most importantly he has looked after the girls. He has been the cheering squad when I can't make it to skating or gymnastics. He has listened to every essay, report, and project I have written. He has always wanted me to succeed in school and in my career. And the fact that our girls get to see that is the cherry on top.

My parents in-law. They are the village that everyone always talks about. I absolutely would not have been able to complete this education without their support. Whenever I have work or school they have been there to lend a helping hand, pick the girls up from school or daycare, take them to do the fun things that I often have to miss out on like swimming or going shopping. I can say that my mom guilt relaxes knowing how much fun they have with their grandparents, and knowing that they are safe and well looked after. I wish every woman had the level of support I do, I appreciate it so much.

My mentors. I have had many amazing mentor relationships over the years. I want to write about each of them, perhaps this should be a series in my blog as I start to write more frequently. I could easily dedicate an entire post to each of these inspiring women. Women who support others through their successes and their failures in equal measure. I have been able to be my full self, find my place in this career, and chip away at courses seeing how these women did the same before me. Always a text or phone call away with the best advice, most honest feedback, and sturdiest shoulders. I cherish these relationships, It is one of the greatest parts of this career watching their stars rise.

My friends and family for telling me I could get here. My teachers. Colleagues. Employers. Everyone on this journey that encouraged me has really made a difference. Even small comments people probably never thought of again. Sometimes those comments really kept me going.

And most especially my girls. Long-term school like this is not easy. One of the hardest parts is missing out sometimes on moments with them. My goal was to show them that if you work hard enough anything is possible. And their love, snuggles, jokes, artwork, puns and giggles have made it seem like it flew by.

Thank you to everyone that has helped me get to this point in the journey. Truly so grateful and excited for the final stretch.

-Amanda