The Time Is Going to Pass Anyway
From Academic Dismissal to Master's Degree: How One Woman Discovered That Time Waits for No One
I wasn't supposed to earn a master's degree, let alone do it with a 4.0 GPA.
In fact, years earlier, I had been academically dismissed from college.
At the time, I was working full-time, trying to balance responsibilities, and school simply wasn't my priority. Life got in the way, and eventually, I walked away convinced that chapter of my life had closed.
For a while, I accepted that.
As my career progressed, I discovered something that changed my perspective. Experience mattered. Hard work mattered. But I also saw opportunities that seemed just out of reach because I didn't have a degree. I realized the only person standing between me and the future I wanted was me.
So I went back.
While working full-time, I returned to school full-time at night, on weekends, and during the summer. I completed my bachelor's degree in just three years in my late 20s. Instead of stopping there, I continued on to earn my master's degree in less than two years, graduating with a 4.0 GPA while working full-time and maintaining the same demanding class schedule I had used to earn my bachelor's degree.
The Time Is Going to Pass Anyway
People often ask me how I found the time.
The truth is, I didn't find it.
I made it.
One sentence became my motivation through every late night, every assignment, and every moment I questioned whether I should keep going:
The time is going to pass anyway.
A year from now, five years from now, or ten years from now, that time will pass whether you pursue your goal or not. The question isn't whether you have enough time. It's whether you'll use it to become the person you want to be.
That lesson has shaped every major decision I've made.
It gave me the confidence to leave jobs where I was comfortable in order to pursue growth. It encouraged me to take risks, even when success wasn't guaranteed. It reminded me that growth almost always begins with discomfort.
More Importantly, It Changed How I Lead
Over the years, I've had the privilege of mentoring women at different stages of their careers. Some are stepping into leadership for the first time. Others are considering going back to school, changing careers, or pursuing opportunities they aren't sure they're ready for.
Many of those conversations have very little to do with resumes or job descriptions.
They have everything to do with confidence.
I often tell the women I mentor that they don't need permission to grow. They don't need to have every answer before taking the next step. They simply need to begin.
That same belief inspired me to establish the Women's Business Council for the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. I wanted to create a community where women could support one another, share experiences, build meaningful relationships, and realize they weren't navigating their careers alone.
Some of the accomplishments I'm most proud of aren't listed on my resume. They're the promotions earned by people I've mentored. The phone calls from women who decided to go back to school. The messages from someone who finally applied for the leadership position they thought they weren't qualified for.
Those moments mean more to me than any title or award ever could.
Obstacles Aren't Roadblocks
My mother taught me another lesson that has stayed with me throughout my life. She faced challenges with resilience, determination, and grace. Watching her overcome adversity showed me that obstacles aren't roadblocks. They're opportunities to discover what we're capable of becoming.
Looking back, I'm grateful for being academically dismissed.
At the time, it felt like failure.
Today, I see it as the experience that taught me perseverance.
Success isn't about having a perfect path. It isn't about never failing or never doubting yourself.
It's about deciding that your story isn't over.
Because the time is going to pass anyway.
You might as well spend it becoming the person you were meant to be.
