Study.Work.Travel.

Happy Fall Season,

This is my favorite time of year to spend reflecting. Especially because this is the time of year that I happen to celebrate many personal accomplishments. October not only is the best season of the year but is also my birthday month, so it is very special to make memories during these beautiful changes.

Fall tends to also be a very busy time with heavy schoolwork loads and many events and meetings with our churches. This past September I celebrated my 1-year anniversary of me and my daughter’s baptism. Since then, we have been members and regular attendees of our church ministries. We enjoy bible study and Sunday services. We attend outings with the church as well as volunteering in the church’s outreach program. I give thanks and glory to God to have made it to this time in my life where I can feel joy and gratitude.

My main accomplishment and journey that I want to share today is my 1-year anniversary with my current company that I have been working full time while going to school. I found this job at a job fair in the community college I graduated from. I was looking for a job in health care and it just so happened that the school was hosting a job fair for health care careers. At the time I was near the end of my medical billing and coding program that I was completing online part time. I was in the middle of submitting more resumes and getting offers for interviews when my current company sent me some tests and a request for an interview. I was so ecstatic because I knew this was the opportunity I needed.

I currently work for a home health care agency in a niche government program. I have been in the roles for operations and case management. I’ve gained experience in patient care, health care administration, payroll, and human resources as well as filing claims to the government. I would like to point out that with all this experience that I am gaining in my current employment I am not exactly doing what I went to school for. I initially wanted to find an entry level position in medical coding. During my job search it was extremely hard to find an opening for medical coding without prior direct work experience. Ironically though as I had already accepted the position at my current employer, another employer called to interview me for a medical coding job at the fraction of the pay my current employer offered. At that time of accepting my position I was heavily led by my faith in God in knowing what is best for me and my family.

I now have a great work-life-balance with work, my daughter’s school schedule, church, my college studies and still some time for fitness and my hobbies like blogging. It took some time to get all that on my plate manageable, but I have found that with planning and discipline I can take care of myself and my responsibilities.

Having a regular full-time job after being a stay-at-home mom working for myself for the past 5 years, I realized that being in a social environment is also important for me in my career. I am building a foundational social network with my church and work. I am even creating great relationships with my online professors. It doesn’t hurt for me to add that even though I am not working as a medical coder (I am technically a billing coordinator for a health care company) I did get my job through this college program with the assistance of my academic advisor who I continue to this day to maintain a relationship.

I’m also learning how to be a better leader and business owner. At my current role I do train and supervise to an extent of being at an entry level position. I am working on getting promoted to a supervisor role within the next 2-3 years as I go through school.

My best advice for anyone who is working full-time and going to school (not counting family and other obligations) is to prioritize what matters most. If you want to have a good career, treat everyday as it is just as important to your career goals. Even on the days you are tired and stressed, realize what you are doing it for and recognize that it’s probably from you not taking care of yourself. Prioritize your health and your energy so that you can be able to sustain through the tough times. Plan out vacations so that you can rest and get your mind away from work and studying. I’ve read research that suggested anyone working full time should take a vacation every 9 weeks at a minimum. Personally, I take a mini vacation for about 3-4 days usually falling on my weekends to take minimal PTO but still have gaps where I can focus on resting and taking care of myself. I also plan bigger travel plans to give me more excitement and spontaneity.

Breaking up the monotony of day-to-day work and school is important as it recharges you to get back in the hustle without getting burnt out. Burn out is a real thing for anyone who has major responsibilities. With that being said with dedication it is definitely attainable to maintain a full-time working schedule with other obligations.