See there’s someone out there who understands me!

I’m not the only one who fully values the importance of education and my decision to transfer to American to complete my M.A. in Education! Earl G. Graves, Sr. Black Enterprise’s publisher, loudly affirmed in his September 2006 publisher’s page that “Giving Up on College Is Not an Option” Though I love my family, continuing my M.A. in Economics studies at American was indispensable towards achieving my long-term goal of earning a Ph.D. I, too, was hit with sticker shock after seeing American’s tuition cost at $1048 is the most in Washington, DC, but my employer paid for one class and loans covered the remainder. In addition, I have applied for scholarships on a weekly basis, will subscribe to the Foundation Center’s Grants for Individuals Online this Friday to obtain more funding sources, and will actively use my Arlington library card this Saturday to retrieve more scholarships.

The publisher reminisced on his college days at Morgan State where he attended school full-time and work numerous jobs to finance his education. At least I am lucky that my employer paid for one course and six of my MBA credits can be transferred, allowing me to receive my M.A. in Economics degree through part-time study. I am truly blessed to be in a position where I can pay out-of-pocket for my community college math lessons and still maintain a decent standard of living.

Quit is not in my vocabulary and honestly I cannot see myself with only one semester of education. Following through has always been my priority and I know that my sacrifice will help my children and grandchildren. My economist job and salary are the direct results of higher educational attainment. Without my BA, I would not have been an economist and without my MBA, I would not have commanded ZP-II; and, without a $45,000 salary, I could have forgotten about living in a decent apartment and saving for college. I would be robbing Peter to pay Paul. Mr. Graves is right by quoting the old adage of “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

The Early Bird Chronicles: Entry 1

Starting this morning, I will chronicling awaking at 5:30am to work from 7:00am-4:30pm to attend my 5:30pm microeconomics class! This should be eventful!

I did it! I awoke at 5:30am and successfully commuted to my office. This is a very big accomplishment because right now I would just be awaking for my normal 8:30am commute. The good news is that I will not have to do this for two weeks because of Labor Day!

I am blogging last week’s happenings and this week’s first days of school at American University. Chronicling how early I must awake to follow through and obtain an education, allows me to track my progress. Blogging is extremely therapeutic because I cleanse my soul of everything that is bothering me.

Friday’s American University graduate orientations were okay. During the graduate economics orientation, I learned that I was the only working economist in both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs! This was a built-in advantage and confidence booster because no one could proclaim me incompetent. In addition, being an economist relieved all of the pressure to perform because grades do not determine whether or not I become an economist. However, as a driven, results oriented woman, I have set higher goals such as graduating with a 4.0 grade point average, receiving Omicron induction, improve my statistical software knowledge and publishing an article (the AEA will publish four new journals next January 2007 and I wish to submit my research). My status also brought me credibility whenever I wanted to have a professor chair my master thesis and independent economics research project. The academic adviser told me to build relationships this semester in order to accomplish all of my research endeavors. My goal is to do just that!

Last weekend while watching the news and stumbling over a NYTimes.com article about the city becoming an educated elite mecca, peaked my interest of securing a CPA license as a bullet-proof backup plan to move to New York and receive my Ph.D. in economics after working here for two years and earning my M.A. First I already have a BA and an MBA prior to relocating and a colleague told me in the galley about how he passed the CPA exam and took an accountant position with another division. Having received my MBA, I knew that I too could make this transition. In addition, NYC is the world’s financial capital and arriving there with two years’ work experience, a CPA license and two master degrees will only boost my profile.

Most of the middle-level, experienced accountants make over $100,000 which will be a big salary increase versus the District. Even though NYC has a higher cost of living, but even my after-tax income will still have more purchasing power than what I do now!

I feel that after landing this highly competitive economist job here (I had to obtain a BA in Economics and maintain a B average, complete the questionnaire, score high on the agency exam [which I took twice], and pay my own way to interview and ace the interview) that I can accomplish anything including acceptance into an Ivy League Ph.D. economics program.

Taking it All in Stride

• I am having a very good day especially after discovering that AU has a new business economics track which is right up my alley! This new track allows me to transfer all of my MBA credits while only taking four economics courses. Currently, I am enrolled in two of the four and next semester I will take master thesis and mathematical economics. This strategy allows me to graduate by spring instead of summer! Hot dog! Of course, I have devised a defense to ensure that the graduate economics department accepts my petition and have contacted another graduate school to take econometrics courses to save money and gain insight on how the government uses these figures. Building on the momentum of the department accepting my managerial accounting class, here are some other important points about transferring all of my MBA credits:
  
  
• Both universities are AACSB accredited institutions
• The economic coursework is rigorous and truly displays my objective of enhancing my mathematical aptitude.
• Macro, micro, master thesis, and mathematical economics
• Econometrics will be taken during either the spring or the summer

The Power of the Charlie Face

Last night’s precalculus class was a world of fun and I believe that after the “smiling Charlie Brown face” that I will excel at math! During the factoring review, the professor drew a four curves, two upper, two lower, which coincidentally symbolized the Charlie Brown face (though she did not know if the two lower curves were either his nose or his chin!) That was the first time that I heard this version of the FOIL method!

Review and Appreciation for Black Women's Lives

Reading Black Women’s Lives inspired me to write a chapter about my life which I entitled, the Academician, describing my affinity for educational achievement.

Completing my M.A. in Economics has been on the forefront ever since arriving in Washington, DC to work as an Economist. Though this objective will initially cost money rather than make money, obtaining my degree was still mandatory, an indispensable element that signaled accomplishment. I already have an MBA but I have never ever not follow through and complete something. Especially regarding education, because without it I would not be a ZP-0110-02 Economist earning a decent living. Instead I would earn a meager wage as a ZP-01 Economist.
Arriving at this point in my journey towards attaining a Ph.D. in economics and business administration, owning my own home and becoming the first black woman Fortune 500 CEO of a wholly-owned corporation. Having successfully transferred from CSU to AU while maintaining the same graduation date, is the first step in the right direction. However, this time there is more on the agenda than just studying. I want to upgrade my skills through the Social Science Lab which offers tutorials and workshops in SAS, SPSS, STATA, SPLUS, EVIEWS, GAUSS, and LIMDEP. Having acquired working knowledge of these software programs will surely boost my professional profile!

This time it is different because I am determined to excel. All I have to depend upon is myself. There is not anyone else who is here in my immediate family to bail me out of anything (not that I am criminal minded anyway!) I truly believe that within one year, I will have earned my degree, received a grade promotion, relocate to Washington, DC and payoff the majority of my bills. Envisioning this life with a decent paycheck was unfathomable even four months ago, but now that I have been here for over three months, the reality has not overwhelmed me at all! Now more than ever, I am focused on securing my pay-for-performance raise, attaining my MA in Economics degree, digging myself out of debt and saving for retirement.

Mid-August Financial Empowerment

Everything has fallen into place today. The community college processed my tuition payment allowing me to enroll this fall. The Human Resources officer approved my training justification and it should reach American by either today or tomorrow! Yes, I am so happy because now all I have to finance is the other half. That makes both me and my wallet feel better. Earlier, I submitted an email proclaiming why I should win the Special Opportunity Award (I am already Economist so your risk would be zero!) to the academic advisor. Hopefully, all of this would be processed before Friday. Also, I opened a new student checking account today thus setting the wheels in motion to switch from my current bank to my new bank. The proximity will provide more opportunity to discuss my situation with the financial specialist, thereby, receiving insider information.

My 29th Birthday and personal evolution

Wednesday was my twenty-nineth birthday. During that day I reflected upon the massive changes that taken place in my life this year. I went from unemployed residing with my mother to working as an Economist in the capital city, attending an MA in Economics program, and traveling down the road of financial prosperity. Everything that I have been taught has helped me immeasurably and I learned more about myself and my resiliency and the importance of having faith regardless of the situation.

I watched Little Miss Sunshine, a hilarious movie about Olive, an eight-year old overweight beauty queen participant, who aspires to win the Little Miss Sunshine pageant and all of her dysfunctional family members. I laughed so hard that I had to take over my glasses twice and by the end of the movie, snot came of out my nose (I had a tissue!). This was the first time in years that I thoroughly enjoyed a movie. The young actress who portrayed Olive, should win an Oscar! Afterward, I ate the Louisiana Devil Meal at Georgia Brown soul-food restaurant off of McPherson Square. The shrimp and Maryland crab cakes were magnificent as was the berry dessert. The best moment of the day occurred when I secured an apartment while at the restaurant (I took the phone call to the lobby). Sealing that deal, placed me on a positive path for the entire year.

This was the first time that I actually looked forward toward being thirty, towards being older because I wanted to experience and witness more. Now I have the opportunity to do so and will not miss out on anything!

Experience

T.D. Jakes book, Mama Made the Difference, is a wonderful read and I have only completed the second chapter. I guess the combination of receiving my birthday from mom acknowledging that I have followed my own path by relocating from Cleveland to Washington, DC to become an economist with reading T.D. Jakes book, has inspired me to become greater.
I can recall even ninety days ago when I landed in Washington, DC, when the county informed me that my last check would be mailed to me and my account bounced that I could had never made it out of this; but, I managed to replenish my bank account, to pay off bad debt, transfer to another graduate economics program and maintain the same graduation date, and have my employer pay for one course, thereby, reducing my indebtedness. Within twenty-four hours, I will arrive in Arlington, VA, for the next leg of my journey and within another ninety days is my pay-for-performance review. If I could make it through these ordeals unscathed then I should be okay for the next ninety days, one-hundred eighty days and even one year.

Don't Quit

This is some added inspiration.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will.
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill.
When funds are low and the debts are high.
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about.
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.- Author unknown

Equipment

While reading The Reverend T.D. Jakes new book, Mama Made the Difference, I stumbled upon Edgar A. Guest's poem entitled, Equipment:

Figure it out for yourself, my lad.

You’ve got all that the greatest of men have had,

Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,

And a brain to use if you would be wise.

With this equipment they all began,

So start for the top and say, "I Can."

Look them over, the wise and the great,

They take their food from a common plate,

And similar knives and forks they use,

With similar laces they tie their shoes.

The world consider them brave and smart,

But you’ve got all they had when they made their start.

You can triumph and come to skill,

You can be great if you only will.

You’re well equipped for the fight you choose,

You have arms and legs and a brain to use.

And the man who has risen great deeds to do,

Began his life with no more than you.

You are the handicap you must face,

You are the one who must choose your place,

You must say where you want to go,

How much you will study the truth to know.

God has equipped you for life, but He

Lets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within,

The man must furnish the will to win.

So figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You were born with all the great have had,

With your equipment they all began.

Get hold of yourself, and say: "I Can."

Book Review: The Promise by Oral Lee Brown

Her memoir about adopting a first-grade class in East Oakland and promising to send every child to college in 1987 was then a daunting and then unimaginable task. Though most people wanted her to fail, Mrs. Brown managed to save $10,000 annually to send nineteen of the twenty-three children to college. Some even attended graduate school but most importantly, all became productive citizens. Many of these children came from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds yet persevered and obtained a college education.

The most inspiration tale was the children’s but of Oral herself. The combination of her financial shrewdness, discipline and encouragement ensured success for them. Born in Batesville, Mississippi in the 1940s, Oral’s parents were only a handful of blacks who owned their own farm. In addition, she picked 50 pounds of cotton for $2.00 a day. She witnessed first hand brutality by the county sheriff against her brother and saw how her father told the NAACP that he wouldn’t press charges for fears that the police would kill his entire family. Afterward, vowed after that incident to never live in fear.

Moving to New York City at age twelve to help care for her older sister’s children, Oral lived in a city were there wasn’t any segregation then at age twenty after much prodding from her two brothers, relocated to East Oakland. During her career she graduated from college through Blue Cross’ continuing education program and started her own real estate company. She used her profits from the company to finance the children’s education. The remarkable thing for me was her financial savvy. Wary of going to the financial market, she opened a personal trust account with a 1999 maturity date at her bank so that her $10,000 could earn a higher interest rate with additional risk. Her concerns were confirmed when the stock market declined in 2000. That financial information gave me much needed insight on how I could earn a higher rate without going to the market.

Reading her autobiography inspired me to soar higher than before because I never had her experiences but always felt that education was critical towards my success. Look no further than today’s economy where a BA is an entry-level requirement for a menial paying job or the state colleges raising their tuition. Though I have an MBA and BA to earn a decent living and pay out of pocket for community college and state college courses, many do not. That is why immediately after receiving acceptance from the MA economics program, I recommitted myself towards discipline by enhancing my personal and professional lives by using my upcoming off day to tour colleges and retrieve information, buying a first day of school outfit the exudes professionalism and an eagerness to learn, purchasing all of my textbooks and reading them in advance to ensure that I achieve a 4.0 grade point average, and applying for scholarships to reduce my tuition. Oral Lee Brown’s story of compassion, hope and goodwill has inspired me to do better in my own life; thus, The Promise, is an excellent read.

Graduate acceptance

American University has unofficially accepted me into its MA in Economics program! Tomorrow the chair will sign my paperwork and after my GRE test scores arrive, it will become official! Receiving acceptance into this school is a crucial part of my financial empowerment plan because securing a graduate economics degree would supply the skills set to command a higher salary during next year’s annual review. Also, acceptance represents the tenacity that I possess the follow through and complete whatever I finish. The best part is that my graduation date remains unchanged: August 2007.

Upon receiving this good news, I purchased the black newspaper where on the front page reported that city's public HBCU increased its undergraduate tuition from $75 to $95 per credit hour. That $20 hike placed many residents at a disadvantage. Many students lack the income to afford this. However, the paper also mentioned a rumor that the city government’s reduction in support was an indicator that the public HBCU location on choice NW real estate would move to SE. Let’s hope not.

On a brighter note, I emailed the financial aid counselor to obtain information that would alleviate paying. Come May 2007, I would officially become a resident; thereby, qualifying me for the LEAP program which provides financial support during the fall 2007 semester. During the summer, I would apply for the $500 institutional grant to ensure that my bill would zero. You cannot beat that!