I'm at MATC to get my associates degree for Information Technology Network Specialist. Now clearly I didn't just get out of high school there is a back story.
I was a professional driver for over 20 years with my last job being a Milwaukee County Bus Driver. I had been with the transit company 15 years and then it happened, my klutziness.
I was running behind schedule on my 1st part of my route and didn't have a lot of time after being relieved before I had to get another bus and start another route but, I had to walk through the garages. These garages are about a city block in length and there are 6 rows of parked buses,so I was rushing through (power walking as I call it) between the buses. Now there is only about 2 feet (on a good day) between the the rows and the lighting isn't all that great so I wasn't exactly paying attention to what was ahead of me but more where my feet were going so I didn't walk into any potholes (I didn't want to twist my ankle). I looked up and I was about to walk face first into one of the mirrors sticking off of the bus. I did what I think most people would do I quickly tilted my head the the side and in the process my shoulder popped up. Now several things played into that moment but the sad fact is I ran my shoulder into that mirror.
After 2 surgeries and many hours of physical therapy I was only able to use my right arm while driving for about 3 hours before I had to stop. So no more professional driving for me.
I started looking into the things I enjoyed and how I could make money doing them. I had always loved computers and it was my dream to go to school for computers if I had ever won the lottery. Wasn't I just given a gift? I took a few aptitude tests and it showed I would do well in this field. With the help of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and Milwaukee Transit System here I am, an honor roll student in her last semester at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
I'm not going to lie, it's been hard but it's also been worth it especially, when you consider I was a high school drop out who thought all she would have needed in her life was her GED.
Sometimes life has a way of twisting and turning your entire world around but, if you hang on for the ride, great things can happen.
