Stewart: Moving forward

We're going in a different direction. Your contract will not be renewed.

Those are tough words to hear. But it's even tougher to explain to a five-year-old why his daddy is no longer going to work. I decided to show him that setbacks are part of life and that it's about how you move forward.

My job last summer was searching for employment. I applied for dozens of jobs. I met with people every week. I kept coming up empty.

As the frustration and the bills mounted, I realized the fundamental problem - I didn't have my college degree. I couldn't get past the human resources sentries to even get an interview. I started working at newspapers in my early 20s and never looked back -- until now. While I was working in the communications and public relations industry the last 15 years, the world changed.

A bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma. It's a must have if you want to be hired in the professional world.

I've been extremely blessed to land a job at Lewis-Clark State College as their public information coordinator. At 41 years of age, I am doubly fortunate because the college is encouraging me to return to school after nearly 20 years. I am starting my classes this week.

I decided it was time to fix the gaping hole on my resume and to go back and finish my degree. It's a daunting task, but one I realize is essential to furthering my career and providing better opportunities for my family.

Applying for admission was simple, really. The online process took about 10 minutes and a debit card. After plunking down the $35, I had to do a scary task to complete the admission process. I had to order my "official" transcripts from all the colleges I had attended. Yes, I admit it: I wandered from institution to institution for nearly 20 years.

While it was relatively easy for me to fill out some paperwork, I imagined my transcripts were stored in a cavernous warehouse similar to the one in the final scene from 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. I felt sorry for the poor records clerks who had to find them.

Clerk: "Look at all these filing cabinets, we'll never find them. There must be thousands of them."

Clerk Supervisor: "Keep digging. They have to be in here."

Clerk: "Sir, here they are. Look at the paper, it's turned completely yellow. My goodness, it looks like somebody used a typewriter. How long ago was that?

Clerk Supervisor: "Yes, 1992 was a good year for dropouts."

It took forever, but with transcripts in hand -- I could hardly wait to get things rolling. Eric Pemberton, Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene business division advisor, reviewed my transcripts. Panic: a reaction to my less-than-stellar grades (My reaction, not Eric's). I had been an academic slacker. I stopped going to classes and never bothered to officially drop them leaving my transcripts rife with "Fs" and incompletes.

Memories came flooding back of blowing off classes off in favor of playing golf at a great little par 3 golf course with a buddy of mine on nice spring days. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I remember there was cold beer involved.

Ashamed of my sheer stupidity, I felt I had nothing to show for thousands of dollars spent. And...my golf game never improved! Back to reality: Eric was awesome, remarking, "You've got a lot of good credits here. We have a lot we can work with."

Relief: this is possible. I could do this. I will do this.

Marc Stewart is the public information coordinator for Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. He can be reached at 292-2684 or at [email protected]