[GTChick01]

What are some sacrifices you had to make to get where you are today?

I just sold my 2001 Mustang GT that I have pour my money, sweat and tears into for the last five years. I did it so that I don't have to work while I'm in school. I know it was the right thing to do, but I'm heartbroken. Racing and cars has been all I've ever known and that's all about to change. Hopefully I'll get back into it after I graduate. But until then.......

[Cerebrum]

You're lucky...

Try losing a flat stomach for a beer belly,

no weekends off or vacation for two years (worked Fri, Sat, Sun 11p-7a)

and... losing hairs on the top of your head!


:gandalf:

[Marie_LPN]

Sleep and free time. I ran on an average of 3-4 hours of sleep a day the first time i was in school. I'll never forget how tired i stayed, how crappy i felt all the time.

I had to put a stop to my craft hobbies, one because i didn't have the time, and two, didn't have the funding for it.

Stayed on dial-up internet, since it was cheaper. Getting cable in about a week or so, though.

[moongirl]

time with my children and husband that I can never get back. sleep. free time. watching a movie. reading a book for fun. lost a friend who doesnt understand how hard nursing school is and why I dont have time...

[dano]

I sold my Mustang my second year into school because the reliability just wasn't there. Racing and going to car meets was all I knew and you're right, it's a lifestyle change. It's amazing how much a simple thing like a car can affect your life huh?

I'm getting rid of the truck I've got and getting a '00-'02 Lincoln LS within the next month or so. If I can't have a fast car, I can at least have a nice car.

I've given up much of my social life because of school. I can't go to the bar to socialize with friends during the school year because I go to school in the morning, work nights 5 days/week, and any free time is dedicated to studying or doing what's necessary; eating, sleeping, taking care of errands/bills, etc.

Don't worry about it because it's very much worth it. One day you can have 10 Mustangs and join up with car clubs and get back to racing/cruising like you used to do. I know before I'm 30 I plan on having a 1970 Candy Apple Red Mach 1 with a 428 SCJ and Toploader tranny. I can deal with doing nothing but working and studying to know I'll own one a few years down the road!

[777RNThatsMe]

Sold my nice couch and chair, sold all my horse stuff..sold anything I could sell to get to school. Fought my ex to move the kids to school 3 hours away. Lost all dignity when being degraded for crap I didn't deserve in school.... (truly). Lost 1/2 the hair on my head (doc says from stress; we'll see now that I've graduated and passed my RN nclex and got a job starting monday). Lost my nice figure and gained an awful one. Lost poverty.....lost an abusive ex....lost time with young children as they watched me struggle through school, shut them "off" in my mind and concentrate on school....

Let me tell you what I gained: 36,000 in school loans. But it gets better from there. I gained my dignity. I gained the confidence that I am valuable and can make a difference in someones life. Gained the respect of my kids who watched me struggle for their betterment. Gained time I now will have with my kids and an income to support that as time goes on. Gained the ability to help people's quality of life on my job...gained alot more knowledge than I had before. Gained respect of even my abusive ex - showed him I COULD do it (he told me to quit school and work as a secretary to support my kids).... I gained weight but the ability to buy a new home gym which I will now have time to use daily. I gained the ability to buy a brand new SUV which is now parked in my garage, ready to take us 3 hours away tomorrow so I can start my new job.... where I wil gain expertise and polish my skills to be worthy of being called an RN (a title anyone should be proud to have earned).... I have gained more faith,...more hope...more wisdom. Simply put I gained everything ..not to mention the ability to support my kids well......promote a schedule that will be beneficial to them...etc.

So yes I sacrificed...it was hard (4 years counting prereqs)...but I'm now building my life. Kids are still young, now we have time ....and will have more time as time goes on and my income grows.... God willing that I never make a mistake that I should loose my license.

I don't count what I've sacrificed...but what I've gained.

[royr]

Originally Posted by 777RNThatsMe

Sold my nice couch and chair, sold all my horse stuff..sold anything I could sell to get to school. Fought my ex to move the kids to school 3 hours away. Lost all dignity when being degraded for crap I didn't deserve in school.... (truly). Lost 1/2 the hair on my head (doc says from stress; we'll see now that I've graduated and passed my RN nclex and got a job starting monday). Lost my nice figure and gained an awful one. Lost poverty.....lost an abusive ex....lost time with young children as they watched me struggle through school, shut them "off" in my mind and concentrate on school....

Let me tell you what I gained: 36,000 in school loans. But it gets better from there. I gained my dignity. I gained the confidence that I am valuable and can make a difference in someones life. Gained the respect of my kids who watched me struggle for their betterment. Gained time I now will have with my kids and an income to support that as time goes on. Gained the ability to help people's quality of life on my job...gained alot more knowledge than I had before. Gained respect of even my abusive ex - showed him I COULD do it (he told me to quit school and work as a secretary to support my kids).... I gained weight but the ability to buy a new home gym which I will now have time to use daily. I gained the ability to buy a brand new SUV which is now parked in my garage, ready to take us 3 hours away tomorrow so I can start my new job.... where I wil gain expertise and polish my skills to be worthy of being called an RN (a title anyone should be proud to have earned).... I have gained more faith,...more hope...more wisdom. Simply put I gained everything ..not to mention the ability to support my kids well......promote a schedule that will be beneficial to them...etc.

So yes I sacrificed...it was hard (4 years counting prereqs)...but I'm now building my life. Kids are still young, now we have time ....and will have more time as time goes on and my income grows.... God willing that I never make a mistake that I should loose my license.

I don't count what I've sacrificed...but what I've gained.

This is exactly the positive mental attitude that determines the altitude a good nurse can achieve! You go Girl - my hats off to you!

[Cerebrum]

Originally Posted by 777RNThatsMe

Sold my nice couch and chair, sold all my horse stuff..sold anything I could sell to get to school. Fought my ex to move the kids to school 3 hours away. Lost all dignity when being degraded for crap I didn't deserve in school.... (truly). Lost 1/2 the hair on my head (doc says from stress; we'll see now that I've graduated and passed my RN nclex and got a job starting monday). Lost my nice figure and gained an awful one. Lost poverty.....lost an abusive ex....lost time with young children as they watched me struggle through school, shut them "off" in my mind and concentrate on school....

Let me tell you what I gained: 36,000 in school loans. But it gets better from there. I gained my dignity. I gained the confidence that I am valuable and can make a difference in someones life. Gained the respect of my kids who watched me struggle for their betterment. Gained time I now will have with my kids and an income to support that as time goes on. Gained the ability to help people's quality of life on my job...gained alot more knowledge than I had before. Gained respect of even my abusive ex - showed him I COULD do it (he told me to quit school and work as a secretary to support my kids).... I gained weight but the ability to buy a new home gym which I will now have time to use daily. I gained the ability to buy a brand new SUV which is now parked in my garage, ready to take us 3 hours away tomorrow so I can start my new job.... where I wil gain expertise and polish my skills to be worthy of being called an RN (a title anyone should be proud to have earned).... I have gained more faith,...more hope...more wisdom. Simply put I gained everything ..not to mention the ability to support my kids well......promote a schedule that will be beneficial to them...etc.

So yes I sacrificed...it was hard (4 years counting prereqs)...but I'm now building my life. Kids are still young, now we have time ....and will have more time as time goes on and my income grows.... God willing that I never make a mistake that I should loose my license.

I don't count what I've sacrificed...but what I've gained.

You sound like several of my female classmates....

Luckily I was poor enough with excellent grades to get a free ride from the feds, state, and school's pockets...

Good job 777RNThatsMe! Drive on!

[rpbear]

I moved into my in-laws winter home, which means we all lived in the same house 5 months out of the year for 2 1/2 years! But I lived basically rent free, paid utilities, taxes and home owners insurance so I could afford to quit my job and go to school jull time. Was it well worth it YES! I couldn't have done it otherwise.

I also, like many other gave up time with my family, new clothes, a social life, vacations, sleep, and a little dignity just to get through school.

Give up everything but your selfworth and pride in order to make it through school, it is well worth it. You can get back all the material things and you will gain a new perspective on life and the human spirit, not to mention a nice paycheck!

Good luck in school!!!

[GTChick01]

These are the exact kind of stories I wanted to hear. I wanted to hear about what people gave up, but thought it was all worth it. Thanks everyone!

dano - the LS is a really nice car! Congrats! Have you seen the 2009 Camaro? It's beautiful... and I'm a Ford person. Maybe that will be my graduation present to myself when I graduate.