[Mr.Squeelerz]

No...I'm not getting married. That is coming some other time...

Over 2 months ago I lost my job of 6.5 years. Everyone at my location in Minnesota was axed and the operations were moved back to South Dakota (where it was moved from just over 2 years ago, and where I moved from just under 2 years ago). With the loss of my job, the company had a package that would pay for training (school) for anyone interested in pursuing an education.

With the program, you are required to research and document the career path of your choice and the schools that offer that program at a "reasonable" cost and can be completed under 3 years. I decided to seek out Web Design in a BA degree. I didn't want anything less than a BA. It was hard finding more than 2 schools that offered this program in 3 years or less in a BA, but I ended up choosing AI (Art Institute International).

I gathered all my data and took it to my workforce officer. He had wide eyes and a look of uncertainty with the program...since it cost around $80k more than the schools they have approved for other former employees, or most ppl who have gone through the program elsewhere in the state.
My workforce officer said "We can TRY. The worst they can say is no". At that point I figured I was chasing a hope that was actually hopeless. We sent in my data in just over a week ago and waited. The state came back requiring more information. We gave them the requested info. I was due for orientation that Friday (yesterday) and was in a panic. I wanted to know before I attended my orientation so I knew if it was worth it to go or not. If the state wasn't going to approve the school, I wasn't going to go.

It was Friday, and still no answer. I was supposed to have known Thursday. I was told late Thursday that I would know by 1pm Friday. This meant I had to go through the whole orientation process. So Friday, off I went...walking through the school, listening to presentations, and getting info. I had to set up my school email and sign more paperwork. All this time I'm thinking to myself "I'm probably wasting my time..I'm dreaming too big".

Orientation was done, so I karted off to kill time while I waited for the answer. I still had about an hr to wait at this point. I went to guitar center and strummed on some guitars, eagerly waiting for that "yes" or "no". I got In my car, checked my email and saw there was a message. "Oh jeez...I gotta open this"? It was hard to click that message to open it up. I held my breath....it read: "We are going to go with the plans". I thought to myself.. "What does this mean...what plans? Their plans or mine"? So I called up my workforce officer and he confirmed that MY plan was accepted and that I would be attending the school. He was very surprised himself. He said he had never seen anyone in his office get approved for a school of that expense.

I was joyed! The smile on my face had never been so pure and big! I was shocked, amazed, and soooo thankful that it was approved. At this point I felt like finally I would have a purpose and my life was going somewhere. In a direction that adds a bright light to my future!

So what this means, is I don't have to pay for anything. Tuition is covered. Books, covered. Supplies, covered. Even my transportation costs will be covered until I move close to school. Simply put, this is a dream literally being handed to me. I feel so blessed!!