A Dream 26 Years in the Making
2nd Time Around!
Hello My Phoenix family. My name is Queen, and I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration at the University of Phoenix. I am also a mother, a death doula, a grief specialist, and a woman who refused to believe that time or life circumstances meant my dream had passed me by.
This journey means so much to me because I first began working toward this dream 26 years ago. Life took me down a different path, and I dedicated much of that time to raising three amazing children. Now, all three of them are preparing to graduate from their universities this spring. Watching them prepare to cross their finish lines while I continue working toward mine is one of the proudest and most emotional chapters of my life.
The most valuable part of my journey at the University of Phoenix has been learning that delayed does not mean denied. I have continued pursuing my education while balancing work, family, health challenges, grief, and personal losses. There have been moments when life (including now) felt extremely heavy, but I kept showing up.
Earning a place on the President's List for a second time, is more than an academic achievement for me. It is proof that perseverance matters. It reminds me that I am still capable, still growing, and still becoming everything I dreamed I could be.
I hope my journey reminds someone else that it is never too late to return, begin again, and finish what has always been in your heart.