It was the summer of 2020. I was desperately wanting out of my marriage, but had no way of making a living to support myself and children. I had applied to many jobs but no one would hire me because I was honest about my availability, which was very limited with young kids in school. I sat thinking about what I wanted to do, what I thought I would be good at. I thought I could be a decent counselor so I looked up what you need to do that. A degree, you need a degree. Links for universities popped up in my search results, and that is how I accidentally applied to college. I was just looking around and I filled out what I thought was just an information thing–you know, you fill it out and then they send you promotional material trying to convince you to attend their school. Well, then I began receiving emails telling me, “We need you to_____” and so I did the things.

And then I got an acceptance letter.

I couldn’t believe it at first, but I set up the online portal, met with an advisor, and signed up for classes.

And that is the story of how I ended up going to university for the first time at 46 years old. No one in my family had ever attended college before. So I knew absolutely nothing. However, I am old enough to be unafraid of asking questions. If I had tried this fifteen or twenty years earlier I would not have gotten through the whole application process, because I did hit some road blocks. Like the trouble getting my high school transcripts. I had to make at least ten phone calls, something I really hate doing. I would have given up before and just accepted my doomed fate of being unhappy in my life.

That accidental application opened a new world for me. I have met so many wonderful people and learned so much about myself and the world.

Thank whatever gods there be for happy little accidents!