The time I was going through my divorce was an extremely unstable one for me, just as I imagine it would be for anyone. I had separated from the military not even two years before, and hadn't been able to secure substantial, meaningful employment.

Worse than having nothing, I felt as if I had less than nothing. I wasn't gainfully employed, I was uneducated (I didn't have a B.A. and am working on completing that now), divorced and without family (I was in Colorado, they were in Florida). By the time my divorce became final, I knew I had to take drastic measures if I wanted to turn my life around and fulfill my purpose on this planet.

By mid-April of the year I got my divorce, I was on the road to California to start over and attempt to mend my life. San Francisco and the Bay Area really agreed with me and it didn't take long before I was gainfully employed and on my way to being happy. I tried everything I could while I was there, as I had no real idea what I liked to do as an adult. I took dance lessons, kickboxing, skiing, kayaking, you name it. After a year of working very hard to reestablish myself (for a time, I held two jobs), I found myself wanting to go back to school.

I enrolled at Skyline College (a local community college), a move that proved to be beneficial. After almost 10 years of not thinking academically, I was finally challenged and allowed my curiosity to run wild. At Skyline, I also found my friend and mentor, Michael Moynihan PhD., and a professor of Sociology. Professor Moynihan spurred me to complete my studies at Columbia University in New York, where I'm now attending school.

The current chapter of my saga finds me here in New York and the hallowed halls of Columbia where I am finishing my last year of studies as a Sociology major. I've been on a remarkable journey up to this point, and I look forward to each day just to see what else will unfold before me.