A few days ago, I graduated from SNHU with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

If you had told my younger self that I would be earning a degree in my fifties while working, managing a household, and balancing countless responsibilities, I probably would have laughed. Life rarely follows the path we imagine when we are young. Mine certainly didn’t.

Over the years, I’ve worked in healthcare, customer service, retail, libraries, food service, and administrative roles. I’ve raised a family, navigated challenges, changed directions more than once, and learned that growth often happens in unexpected ways. There were times when finishing a degree felt far away, and there were moments when it seemed impossible.

But step by step, class by class, assignment by assignment, I kept moving forward. As my grandma often said, “One day at a time.” Looking back, I realize that’s exactly how this degree was earned.

Persistence isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it looks like studying after a long shift at work. Sometimes it means logging into class when you’re tired, overwhelmed, and doubting yourself. Sometimes it means refusing to give up on a goal simply because it takes longer than expected.

This degree represents more than coursework completed or credits earned. It represents resilience, curiosity, and the belief that learning doesn’t have an expiration date.

One of the reasons I chose the tagline “Growing Through Curiosity” for this website is because curiosity has been a constant companion throughout my journey. It led me back to school. It sparked my interest in marketing, consumer behavior, branding, and technology. It continues to encourage me to ask questions, explore new ideas, and remain open to ask questions, explore new ideas, and remain open to opportunities I never imagined for myself.

Graduation isn’t the end of the journey. It’s the beginning of a new chapter.

My next steps include continuing to build my skills through professional development, including coursework in Google Analytics and Adobe InDesign. Both represent areas where I want to grow as a marketing professional and communicator. The marketing world continues to evolve, and I want to keep learning alongside it.

I’m also continuing to develop this website as a portfolio, a blog, and a place to share ideas. My goal is not only to showcase projects and accomplishments but also to document the ongoing process of learning, adapting, and growing.

To anyone who may be considering a new goal, a career change, or a return to school later in life, I hope my story serves as a reminder that progress is still progress, no matter how long the journey takes.

She persisted.

And she’s just getting started.