The Road Taken by Jeanne

The Road Taken by Jeanne - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

I remember listening to my sixth grade creative writing teacher, Mrs. Putney, reading Robert Frost to a bunch of listless kids and knowing that I’ll always remember the last verse of that poem. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I / I took the one less traveled by / and that has made all the difference” (The Road Not Taken, 17-20). At the time, I didn’t fully absorb the significance of the poem, but looking back now, I realize that “The Road Not Taken” describes life perfectly. It’s a series of diverging paths; standing at the fork of two metaphorical roads and wondering which one to take…just hoping that when you finally make your decision, you chose well.

I was 18 years old with two weeks left to graduation, standing on that fork in the road. I was graduating in the Class of 2001 from SGP High School, a small suburb just outside of Dallas. The plan was to ditch the town and experience college life in San Antonio. But road maps change all the time. A baby had other plans for me. So while my friends went off to college, I decided I was going to be a mommy at the age of 18. Do I regret the decision? No. Do I enjoy every minute of parenting? No. If I had to do it all over would I choose the same paths again? Yes. These paths led to my little boy, and everything I did from that point on was for him. I found a job, I got married, and by the age of 19, I was a wife and a mother.

The roads finally led me to Boston, Massachusetts in 2008. I came to Boston with $2000 dollars in my pocket, no job, a little bit of hope, a whole lot of doubts, thousands of butterflies in my belly, and a divorce under my belt. In 2006 I had taken on the hardest job of all – being a single mom, and I kept wondering if moving my son across the country was a good road to take. I had no idea how things would pan out…and the only comfort I had was that I can stay rent free at my sister’s until I get on my feet. I didn’t know how long it would take to get on my feet. The not knowing was what scared me the most. My first night on my sister’s couch was the first time I prayed in years. God and I weren’t speaking to one another. But I figured since I was starting over, maybe He and I can start over too, try to be pals…or at least be civil with one another. I found a job within the first week of being in Boston and obtained an apartment and a car a few months after that. The apartment was a shoe box and the car was a piece of…something – but I loved them both. They were mine. I was happy. It felt good to move on. It felt good to make things come together. But there was something else I needed to do. Go to college.

In 2010, I got my wish. I remember the giddiness of walking into the Academic building of Curry College for the first time and thinking, after 9 years, I was finally going to school again. I knew it was going to be tough. Nothing about being a single mom, working a full time job, while going to college was going to be easy. Did I want to quit sometimes? Yes. Was I going to quit? No. Life is a series of diverging roads, but quitting isn’t one I’m willing to take.

I continued on my series of forks in the road, and it led me to Thomas Geary, my husband. After a few years of watching him be the best father to his children - and become a role model to my son, he asked me to marry him. This time, there was only one road I was willing to take. We purchased a humble ranch style house and became a family. However, there was only one problem – my new home was far away from Curry College. I tried continuing on my current path, but I found that I spent less time with my family, and more time on the road. I finally chose to transfer my credits to Merrimack College. However, as with all roads, there were bumps along the way. Merrimack couldn't take all my transfer credits, and I ended up losing a year's worth of work. I chose to stay on, but depleted my financial aid in the process.

The roads I've traveled have finally taken me here, applying for this scholarship, and soldiering through any boulders blocking my path towards a diploma. I have six classes left. Twenty four credits are standing between me and my degree. But I will continue on this journey, and see it through to the end.

I suppose that's what life has taught me; the philosophical view I acquired that day in creative writing class with Mrs. Putney; Life will always offer up several paths. The choices will not always be easy, or clear. The path won't always be paved, or clear of obstruction. The best one can do is to have faith…and keep soldiering on.