Too Cool For School

During my high school career, I was a terrible student. Like many adolescent kids, I didn’t understand the implications or care if I did well in my classes. I don’t have many regrets in my life; however, taking my high school career more seriously would have opened me up to greater opportunities. Not only that, but my inability to care presented me with getting my diploma a semester late. I sadly did not walk for graduation because I was short by three credits. Consequently, I was trying to fix a sinking ship by the time it was too late. However, I bit the bullet and attended the extra semester, thus, earning my high school diploma.

I stumbled in life for the next ten years, working in a factory and learning a lot of great practical skills. Thankfully, while many of my friends complained about the debt they collected for a degree they would never use, I was glad to not have that issue. However, this changed when I started a family. I wanted to show my children that education was important. But how could I tell them that when I didn’t hold any degrees (besides barely finishing high school).

This set me on my educational journey—it was early January of 2020—what a year.

Shortly after I enrolled, my in-person classes turned into online endeavors. I was devastated at the time. (I still wasn’t a great student, yet) and what’s more, I barely qualified for the program in the first place. The original goal was to be a history teacher at the high school level. If I were to show my kids that education was important; in my mind, I needed to be a teacher. But other plans would strike! The institution I was at dissolved its education program (because covid) and I had the option to drop out or change programs. I switched to a human services degree because I loved the psychology classes. I did this for a time—then…

The Great Divorce

The consequence of COVID-19 added stressors for many families, mine included. Life continued to kick me down and I had lost all hope (I still wasn’t a great student, yet) and I DROPPED out of the program. At the time, I couldn’t justify being a single dad and a full-time student. During this time, my two young children needed me. And I made peace with the notion of never going back. Rather than working in a factory, I was in the mental health field and I learned so much.

A year went by and as I settled into the life of a busy single dad, I found a sense of normalcy. I kept seeing these commercials for Southern New Hampshire University on television. Every time they appeared (which was a lot) a deep yearning occurred in my bones—I still needed my degree, the voice in my head would say. So, naturally, I filled out a request for an information packet (online of course), and a day later their admission office called me to talk about the possibility of pursuing my education—it was possible and I was in! Debt be damned!

Journey to a Great Student

Naturally, I enrolled as a military history student. During this time, I still had the notion of being a teacher (even though an education degree would better suit those needs, yes I was naive). However, I took a humanities class, then switched to anthropology; followed by my first Lit class, and utterly fell in love with creative writing. I finally found my path and had my reason. I wanted to be a professional writer. I was always in love with the notion of writing, but my negative self-talk always told me I wasn’t good enough.

I cared so much about what I was doing and learned how to properly study and learn in a way that worked for me. For the next three years, my mission was to be a present father and somehow break into a professional writing career. I ended up writing for many small magazines and one that had IGN journalist alumni. My writing path and video games were interconnected. I accomplished many achievements and went to school (at the same time). I was finally a great STUDENT. I even broke into the publishing industry as an editor. This was through both education and experience.

Something Ends, Something Begins

I wrote, and wrote, then I wrote some more; Both for school and for myself. I published web serials and edited over twenty-eight books (and counting) and as of this writing, I’m finishing up my B.A. in creative writing (my commencement date is April 1st and I finally will walk for graduation in May, I fly out to New Hampshire). For me, the importance of walking for graduation goes back to my inner self during high school—this is a win for that struggling, scared, child.

As I learned more throughout the years, my goals changed. The dream shifted from teaching at high school to getting paid for my writing and teaching at the college level. While I have the confidence and skills, in which I could earn a Ph.d, my true love is creative writing. Thus, an MFA (master’s in fine arts) in creative writing is the best fit; however, these programs are vastly competitive and many students don’t get accepted the first time around.

MFA (some debt required)

I submitted materials for two different programs. The anxiety of a crushed dream is real, but this is the very real life of a writer (getting published is just as difficult, in a different way). I tried my best to keep expectations low as I navigated the last weeks of my final classes. “I’ll just resubmit my application after six months,” I told myself. And the news came back from the admission office of the second place I submitted my application—SNHU.

“Trevor, congratulations, you’ve been accepted into the MFA program for creative writing,” my new graduate admission counselor told me. I was over the moon, I had done what I thought was impossible, just four years prior. I had defeated my negative self-talk demon and had validation that I was writing well enough to pursue creative writing at the highest level. And while I internally told myself I didn’t need the validation—it was nice.

And a week later, I was also accepted into Alma College’s MFA low residency program! The two programs I applied for, I was accepted into. I found myself a little overwhelmed because I never thought I’d be in the position to have options for my education (hard work truly pays off). My education continues with my MFA journey!

Now, I have research and decisions I must make. I am grateful to be in the position that I am.

Happy writing,

—TW