LIFESTYLE POST| COLLEGE? AT YOUR BIG AGE!?

 

Okay yes, you read the title right. I, Jalisa Forbes, decided to go back to college after 12 years. Why? I simply wanted something to do, to expand my own knowledge for the career I love and to honestly push myself outside the box. I had gotten stuck in this routine of just being mom, and that being my main focus, I had gotten stuck in this routine of just trying to be the best wife. I was giving so much of myself that there wasn't much left to give back to me. And how can I pour into my family if my cup is empty?

When I started this blog in 2013, I had every intention of blowing up and being this well rounded personal stylist and beauty maven. I had my first child in  2014, and the trajectory of my life changed. I was now in a serious relationship and taking on a huge role. I don't regret any of it, other than not pushing myself to still prop myself up on a pedestal. I love my family with everything in me, and they have never once asked me to do all that I did, it just came second nature to pour into others before myself.

Many mothers and women in general experience this. The desire for a relationship or to be a mother do not have to outweigh your need to still be YOU. Once I came to this realization, it was so much easier for me to go with my girlfriends for drinks, dress up even if I'm just going to the grocery store, re-open this blog and start posting more, getting much more consistent with my content creating, taking my self care seriously, and eventually tackling my own goals one at a time.

                                                         

I have taken a few online courses for fashion styling before, well I started it one year then finally finished it this year LOL, but I wanted to get my certificate of completion this time. I first started researching the best option for me in spring of 2024 and found a variation of options to choose from. Thankfully, I did not have to be on campus. The thought of having the compete with younger versions of myself, just as driven, and have to show up full face of makeup and dressed to impress multiple days a week honestly sounded dreadful. I am just not that girl anymore, but I do plan on finding a much more grown up and realistic version of her. I kept coming across online courses and decided it was time to decided who I would register with. The final verdict, George Brown College.

By January of this year. I enrolled and paid for my course and by the end of March I have completed my first course in their fashion styling program. I honestly was not sure if I would have the courage to not only start the course but to also complete it. It was challenging, as I still have to fulfill my duties as a mother and wife to my family (and do NOT forget the self care sessions!), but with the support of those same individuals that I have been pouring into all of these years, I made it to the end. Now I do not know how well I did in my first completed course, as I am still waiting on my final grades, but 1 done and 4 more to go until I am complete. The next year or more are going to be such a fun ride, and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds. Stick around to see how "College In My 30s" progress. Aight, later y'all!