Still Going

In the fall of 2022, I began the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) program full of excitement. As the wife of a combat veteran and mom to a ten-year-old, I knew it would be a challenge, but my family and I were ready. The program was everything I hoped for — rigorous, rewarding, and rich in community. The intellectual challenges and incredible friendships, along with two career promotions, made for an incredible first two years.

Then came the summer of 2024.

My family's home caught fire. It was a near total loss, and I suddenly found myself navigating the complex world of fire recovery. A couple of months later, I discovered I was pregnant. At the same time, a close family member was battling substance use disorder and mental health struggles, and I oversaw their care.

My advisor offered me multiple chances to pause the program. I could have stepped away — but something deep inside me wouldn't let me.

Life unraveled quickly, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had lost control of my once remarkable life. My advisor offered me multiple chances to pause the program. I could have stepped away — but something deep inside me wouldn't let me. I had already come so far. With his unwavering support, I kept going.

Eleven months later, I have a two-month-old baby in my arms, a doctorate to my name, a house halfway rebuilt, and a family member finally receiving the care they need. It took grit, conviction, and a lot of letting go.

As someone who prided herself on being fiercely independent, the hardest lesson was learning to accept help. Friends showed up with meals, classmates checked in, and my village — made up of people from every chapter of my life — stood strong around me. I had to learn that surviving didn't mean doing it alone.

And now, on the other side of all of it, I can say this: it was worth it. Every sleepless night, every unpolished draft, every moment I doubted my resolve — it led me here. Stronger. Softer. Clearer. And still going.