Two years ago, almost to the day, I sent an email from a hotel room in Charlotte, NC.

“I got my bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Colorado at Boulder [insert an embarrasingly large number of years] ago. Since then, I’ve been a copywriter and consultant for technology companies. Would the Department of Communication at UCCS even think about accepting a graduate student like me?”

I received an email back within the hour from a professor who was traveling through the Netherlands at the time — and it set an entirely new course for me. “Yes. You sound like a perfect fit for our program.”

I scrambled to figure out how to pay for it. I applied for every scholarship. I begged letters of reference from my publisher and a favorite past client.

I barely made the deadline to apply for the following year.

They said yes.

In Oct 2022, I received an acceptance letter in the mail. I talked to my family about what life would look like in fall of 2023. We prepared for me to be spending nights and weekends “at school” (the program was entirely online at that point).

In Nov 2022, they told me they’d let me start early, in the spring semester, if I would like to.

I said yes.

I started my graduate studies in January 2023, full of hope and fear. I worked straight through, taking summer classes and accepting special projects and assistantships for more credits.

It’s been a year and 5 months of hard work.

Rewarding work.

Life-changing work.

And next Friday, I will hold my master’s degree in communication in my hands.

Today, I know myself better than I ever have because of this graduate program.

I’m more confident in what I do for a living, how I navigate the world, and where my strengths really are.

I’m so glad I did this.

And I’m so ready to get back to writing books.