All of a sudden, I woke up and I was 30. I said to myself: Eh, It's just another number, another year, another birthday...whatever. But as the day went by, I started to reflect on my life. I began to realize that after so many years of getting tossed around like a rag doll in the corporate shuffle, I was left factionless and with little options. Drained, and empty-handed.

I went in and out of panic mode, trying to figure out how to better my odds and what my next move should be. Here's what else I came to realize: I was sick and tired of getting shitted on. Why was I putting myself through this agony and this race to a dead end job to prove my worth to someone that gets off on making his/her 'subordinates' feel small? So instead of waiting around for someone to find me worthy, I invested in myself: I went back to college.

The first semester is going to be the hardest. There were so many times I went into 'freakout' mode, feeling like I was drowning in a sea of insecurity and fear. "I should just quit!"

Stay. The. Course! It's because of this that I can't stress enough how important and significant it is to have a support system. Whether it's your life-partner, your therapist, study groups, friends, your sibling or your best friend...have someone you can vent to. They'll gladly remind you of your strengths, and keep you motivated.

Also, a piece of (unsolicited) advice? Go to community college. Whether you're in your 20s or 30s going back to college, or a recent high school graduate, community college is the perfect jump-off. In hindsight, I should've gone to community college after graduating high school instead of buying into the "grandeur" of a big, impersonal, out-of-touch, money-making university. Not only is community college cheaper, but it's also smaller, making it easier to build relationships with professors and to stumble on special events that offer free food (they're clutch when you're on a budget).

One last thing: Raise the bar. Do it right this time - get organized, and be smart with your time. Raise your standards, always reach for excellence (but not for perfection, beware!). Embrace your age and share your wisdom and experience with these young-ones, inspire them to reach new heights as you aspire to reach the height of your full potential, too.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Aristotle