Jacke Dettmer

“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, then success is sure”-Mark Twain

As a struggling mom on welfare, I found myself sitting around often waiting for life to happen to me and it wasn’t fulfilling, not in the slightest. I needed a challenge and I needed to feel accomplishment, and frankly I needed to earn a paycheck. I had oodles of customer service skills, but that would get me another job I didn’t want, doing something I didn’t want to do, making not nearly enough to support my family. I remember having the idea to go back to school… it was some big aha moment for me, but I knew the traditional sit-in-the-classroom for hours a day, 5 days a week just wouldn’t work. Remembering a friend had done some online schooling through Laurus College, I googled the phone number right then and dialed. That phone call changed my life; in a matter of a day I went from unemployed and going nowhere, to starting college in a few weeks. I had a goal and a purpose.

School has never been easy for me, but I like a challenge and I was determined. I remember taking that first math class and thinking to myself, “there is no way I am going to pass this class”. I suck at math! I did my work, I tried my hardest, and not only did I pass, I got an A! I thought math was hard, well that’s a joke. Now, medical terminology, whooie! that book was huge! I had to memorize words and meanings and body parts while my kids ran around distracting me, and I was pregnant and exhausted the whole time. Yet again, I gave it my all. I engaged, I asked questions, I studied harder than I’ve ever studied before and I passed, again with an A. There were easier classes too, and I found a rhythm that worked for me. Go to class, do the work, turn it in. I would stress and stress about my ability to comprehend and retain, but I kept passing classes. I kept getting A’s and gaining confidence in myself. I was achieving what I never thought was possible.

When my son was born, he had spinal meningitis. I spent every moment I could in the NICU with him and classes just weren’t an option at the time. The teachers and other staff at Laurus were so encouraging and so understanding. They checked in on me often. I knew despite the challenges life was throwing my way I still had a chance. Giving up was not an option.

In November, with the help of career services, I submitted my resume to a local physical therapy office. I was turned down for the job, even after my interview had gone so well… I didn’t understand. School had prepared me for interviews and I was ready. The very next day I received a call back. They had changed their mind! I got the job! I never worked in a medical office in my life and I still had classes to finish. Now, not only was I learning at home, I was learning at work, and let me tell you it is a BUSY office. There was so much that school didn’t teach me that I had to learn. My brain was overflowing with information. I was mentally drained all the time, but I kept pushing on. Come January my final grade was posted for my very last class, I didn’t get an A, but I passed. I graduated and that’s all that mattered. My friends and family, who believed in me more than I seemed to believe in myself at times, were just as happy as I was that I had done it. I achieved my goal… I succeeded.

As we all know, life is like a roller coaster. No one expected the world to be such a different place as it is now. This pandemic has created challenges that no one could foresee. I am now at home with my 3 wonderful children and enjoying the time I get to spend with them as a mom and a friend and as a make shift 3rd grade teacher. I cannot wait to go back to work, to help others, and to feel that sense of accomplishment every day that I am making a difference in people’s lives. As I wait for shelter in place orders to be lifted, I get to be blessed by this opportunity to spend time with my family while there are people working in my company to get it thriving again. A company that felt so much like home away from home. I wish I could be there with them, but I am happy I am here. I am thankful for all the essential workers out there doing their part, and I look forward to getting back to doing my part. I look forward to learning more and growing as a person and getting my career back on track. I am thankful every day for my education, for my own willingness to persevere, and for all the teachers and family and friends that support me along the way. Success doesn’t just happen, we make it happen…and my journey has just begun.