Salary and college credit

My salary raise was approved! They have to have all the original transcripts from all of my institutions and they didn't review them until December. I had to pay $5 apiece for some of the transcripts. At least I had it approved.

I realize when I have to get all these official transcripts that I have spent a lot of time in college.

I spent my first struggling year at Northern Illinois University because I thought it was better than community college, and it was less than a half hour's drive from my folks' house. I was a small fish in a big pond. $5 transcript. And I didn't even graduate from there.

My second year of college, a real struggle with finding myself that year, I transferred to Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois, almost at the last minute. I was able to get a handle on things and received much better grades. I finally started making the Dean's List after being Salutatorian in high school. I never before struggled with grades. Waubonsee saved me.

I was able to go away to school for my third year, even though I was scared. I was afraid that I would fail again, like I almost did at Northern. Luckily, Jeremy Britt, my best friend back then took me in as a roommate in the dorms at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. My fourth year I lived solo in the dorms and got my Bachelor's degree. I spent one extra semester in student teaching at West Aurora High School.

One thing of note: all these classes that I took made me graduate with 149 credits when I only needed 120 to graduate.

After my Bachelor's, I did not go into teaching right away. Long story. I eventually went to DeVry Institute of Technology for a few semesters as I was trying to get a degree in computer information systems. I took classes like COBOL and statistics and accounting. Lots of value. I never finished that degree.

After moving to Seattle, City University was literally a nine iron shot away from my apartment. I went for one class in business administration towards a Master's degree until I was so disgruntled with that one class. I learned nothing but old Boeing stories. I was so upset that I told the counselor off.

Now I am working towards a Master's degree in my first love, English. Thank God Amy made me start. I almost didn't want to. I am so glad I am almost done too. This is with National University online so I do not have the seat time. It's wonderful.

That's a lot of college. At least with teaching, I am almost guaranteed salary advancement with college credit. If I continue on for my doctorate in English, which I really really want to, I will get higher on the salary steps.