The risk I took, which I do not regret, was pursuing my education to become a principal. Although it was stressful a lot of the time, I do not regret the experience that made me the person I am today. My parents said I’d never finish my first degree. Today, I have three. I don’t want to brag. I just want to make the point that if someone tells me I can’t achieve something, I will if I want to! My hard-headed self did it.
Taking classes to be a principal was a risk. Being that I was pretty limited with my demographics, there were not too many positions available in my area, but I did not let it stop me. It was extra money that we really didn’t have at the time, because the husband was laid off from the local glass plant. We still had kids in college.
The day I had to take “the test” to get my principal certification is one I will never forget. I drove to the town where the main campus was and couldn’t find the building at first. (It was before we had navigation!), I walked into the room where the exam was given and saw a bunch of 22 year olds taking their exams. They weren’t taking the same exam as me, but I was 50, and felt very out of place. The test lasted 120 minutes. There were 120 questions. That blew my mind. I did my best and sweated it out until I received my score. I passed with a great score despite my big anxiety! I sat on that certificate for four years before I finally landed a job at the school where I was teaching. That was good and bad at the same time. Supervising people you’ve worked with is not easy. Hiring new teachers and starting each adventure was rewarding most of the time. Parents…well. That’s a topic for later. I loved the students!
I will never regret the risk I took at a very tough time for the family. It paid off. My fondest and most challenging memories are in the principalship.
Later…
Retired Principal Tales 
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