Strategy

As one steps into adulthood life starts putting obstacles in their paths. Many people experience day to day problems that affect them in reaching life goals. My day to day problem is juggling my personal life (e.g. family), my employment (e.g. Police Officer), and at the present time going back to school (e.g. student). I realize that I have to develop a strategy where I can dedicate the acceptable amount of time to each of them before it is too late and lose one. “Whether the goal is an M.B.A. or a bachelor's degree that will assist a career change, going back to school as an adult is often a lesson in time management and prioritizing” (Hoak, July) . In order to solve my problems, I need to figure out my priorities and organize my activities. When it concerns my family it becomes extremely difficult for me. I am a dedicated father and husband. When I am not with my family, I feel as if I am abandoning them. My children are currently four and five, and my biggest fear is that I will miss an important part of their lives. I know I have the support of my family, but it is a personal problem I have within me and it is hard to explain and understand. I believe the problem stems from the age of nine with my father leaving and abandoning my mother, sister, and I. One of the advantages of my job is that I get out of work early enough to make it home and have dinner with my family, play games with my children and read a bedtime story to them. Once my children are tucked in their beds and sleeping, it is time to focus on my school work. “It’s important that students don't allow the demands of school to affect performance at the workplace” (Hoak, July). I am very fortunate that my employment is supportive of an officer who wants to go to school to obtain his/her bachelors degree. Working as a police officer requires a great deal of concentration and focus. Research Strategy Paper During my day at work I cannot let the stress of school interfere with my abilities in making the right decision out on the streets so I have to separate them. An incentive that my job gives the officers is the time to do physical training, which is about one hour. It is fantastic because I can use that hour for any school work, and it will not affect my job performance. Concerning school I have to be fully committed and set a specific time for studying either at home or at work. Time is too precious to waste. I am not going let any school work pile up and wait for the last moment and rush through assignments to get it complete. I am going to set up a schedule and follow it to the fullest. “Students should bring the good work habits they've acquired in their professional lives to their new academic ones” (Hoak, July). I chose to go back to school, so I have to step up to the plate and succeed in it. I know going back to school is not a simple task to accomplish. However, with the support of my family and friends, I know it can be done. One of my biggest supporters in my life is my wife of 11 years. She understands and knows how it feels about going back to school as an adult. She also understands my goal and understands a little has to be sacrifice. She knows it will benefit the family. A great support system offered at University of Phoenix is the student mentorship program. It is a program where I can converse to a senior student or a graduate who knows and understands the feeling of going to school as an adult and all the stresses that life can bring as someone is in school. I believe if I follow everything that I stated, my goal will be accomplished. The only thing that I can see stopping me from reaching my goal is “I.”