Unaccepted but Unconquered

 During spring break this last semester at Florida State University, I received a decision that devastated me at first. I have worked so hard - nonstop - since returning to college after a fifteen year hiatus to achieve one goal: overcome a poor GPA from poor choices in the past and get into graduate school. With that rejection letter, I felt a little bit of me die inside... and then I got over it and decided to move forward with the same attitude of constant improvement I've had for the last two and a half years.

I've applied to start a second bachelor's degree through the Online/Distance Learning program at FSU in Criminology. Is it exactly a major interest of mine? No, not really, but it's loosely related to crime scene investigation, forensic anthropology, and it's a study of a different part of the human population... criminals, deviants of sorts. I want to use it as a jumping board to possibly look for a unique angle to reapply for graduate school in the future; I think that with a better thesis focus along with the GPA and second degree I won't be denied again.

I think that I can make this work. The online degree program is part time only and meant to fit into the schedule of someone that already works full time like I do, which is a big change from all the time I've spent on campus since getting readmitted as an anthropology major in the fall of 2020. There are tons of viable career options in the criminal justice field that I would qualify for if I decide not to pursue graduate school in anthropology after finishing my bachelor's. I could obtain a career and still do an online master's through FSU for criminology as well while working; there are a lot more doors open if I just keep going and make my way somehow. Doing retail forever isn't viable and that's my motivation for continuing on.

I really want to focus on creating a unique research point of view through a second degree program to assist me with getting back to anthropology some day. I love learning, I have really learned to love school, and I'm looking forward to utilizing a new path to give new perspectives on anthropology.