College has been once of the best experiences of my life. Here, I have learned work ethic, how to study, what my breaking point it, gained lifelong friends, lost friends, found myself, and more. So why did I rush to finish? I began my college journey when I was in high school by taking concurrent classes. This put me ahead by 12 hours already. Once I got to USAO, I had a goal for myself. I wanted to graduate with my bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education in three years.

I know people say college is the best four years of your life and don't wish it away, which is true, but I had a goal. I didn't want to waste my time taking classes longer than I had to. I was ready to be a teacher. There is this dream job in my sites, I can taste it. The faster I graduate, the faster I get to teach at this school with my favorite people. I began taking more and more hours each semester. I knew how many hours I could tolerate to keep up my grades and my sanity, and went from there. I started at the basic 13, and now as a senior I'm taking 20 hours. I'm starting my third year and have two semesters , one of classes and one of student teaching. Finally, my goal is in my sights.

So why is it okay for me to rush through college? I rushed through because I knew there was something specific waiting for me afterward. I love my college experience and my friends, but teaching is so much more enticing. I knew how many hours I could take without having a total breakdown. My advisors had faith in me, knew my work ethic, and trusted me to make the nest decision for myself. I'm more ready for the “real world” outside of college than what world is at college. There's something about the fact I will be teaching in a year that excites me so much. To know I have almost accomplished my goal makes me so happy.

I'm more ready for the outside world of teaching than myself being taught. My heart is in a classroom teaching 25 kindergarten students, not sitting in a classroom with 80 other students who don't want to be there, learning something I may never use. I love expanding my knowledge, but I want to be interested in what I am learning. Taking a ton of hours allowed me to take semesters of only basic classes or all education classes, but there were some I had intermingled basics and education. My interest is in education, so these are the classes I want to take. I don't mind cramming 20 hours of the 4000 level classes into my last semester because it means I am near the end.

Graduating with a bachelors in two education fields allows my job availability to be bigger. By doing this in three years, I can graduate, start teaching and then go on to start my masters. When teaching, a masters is important for continuing education, another degree field, more pay, etc.. I rushed through so I could begin my career and start on my masters journey while I teach and get started faster. My dream school and job is calling my name. I'm close to graduating with my first degree which only took me three years. It's okay to want to go through college faster than the average person. I have a drive, something pushing me in the direction in headed, and I wanted to finish quickly. My future classroom is so close, and it only has taken three years. I rushed through college, and it's okay.