Much like my decision to return to school, this introductory blog post is long overdue.
It might seem interesting – or even a little crazy – that I chose to leave a decent-paying job to return to school, but I believe just the opposite. It’s crazy to have a desire to learn and a dream and choose to not chase it. I’m not so naive as to believe I could make these types of life changes without an incredible support system, but that’s a blog post for another day. Today I’l just share the basics.
I graduated from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA in 1999 with a BA in Journalism and a wedding ring. I suppose I chose the wedding ring because I was afraid to be alone, but that’s an even longer story. I chose Northwestern (close to home), and Journalism, because I was scared – scared of a challenge, scared to fail, maybe even scared to succeed. But that’s the funny thing about life. Even if you take what seems to be the simple path, it is fraught with obstacles and learning opportunities.
Twelve years later, divorced but happy, I made the decision to quit my job, take out loans and return to school. It is completely different from how I remember. Everything is much more fast-paced. Instructors have incredibly high expectations. And the Internet has obviously taken over. My biggest advantages this time around are the ability to write (thank you NSU) and that I am much more focused and driven (thank you adulthood).
Tatum Lyles Flick 
I am honored to be the first posting on your blog.
And at 57, I am trying to muster up the courage to chase my dreams. To retire early and live my life doing what I choose instead of just what I feel I have to for my family, my employer, my expectations…
And you are right there will be costs, mostly financial. But the cost of spending more years denying myself even simple pleasures is far greater.
Thanks Tatum for helping me verbalize my dream chase.