While many people are celebrating Cinco de Mayo by gorging on tacos at home, I’m thinking back to May 5, 2007, when I became a graduate of Marshall University. The feeling of accomplishment as I walked across the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, West Virginia, with my master’s degree in hand is one I’ll never forget.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years! It’s been 13 years since I set foot on Marshall’s campus. When I left the ceremony as a master’s graduate, I was one month away from getting married…and no job prospects in sight. It was exciting yet incredibly anxiety-riddled. The me from 13 years ago would have never imagined that the me from 2020 would have returned to school for a Ph.D. However, the 2020 me is feeling the same anxiety and uncertainty that the 2007 me faced - just older and less hair.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I was supposed to be traveling to Atlanta for my hooding and commencement ceremonies at Mercer University. Instead, my hooding was rescheduled for May 2021 and my commencement was moved to August. This month was supposed to be an exciting time. Instead, like most people, the feelings of excitement have been replaced by anxiety and uncertainty.

Had you asked me 13 years ago where I was going, I would have said I was going to be an Athletic Director at an NCAA Division I institution within the next 15 years. I never imagined I would be trying to build an academic career after leaving the only profession I knew. After rebuilding my life. But, here I am trying to make a name for myself in academia. I’ve been practicing patience as I await the status of two academic papers. I’ve been trying to stay positive with academic job prospects, but it does get hard at times.

Thirteen years ago, I had a “plan” of where I was going and where I was going to end up. Like all plans, it blew up, but that’s life. Where I am now is better off than I where I could have been had I followed my plan. The lessons and experiences are invaluable.

If I could go back, I’d tell the 2007 version of me that you never know where you’re going. AND THAT’S OKAY.