Mother’s Day Student Feature: Sherry Walter
Sherry Walter
Program: Cosmetology
Start Date: July 2015
Projected Graduation Date: May 2016
Names and ages of kids: Emily, 26 years old; Andrew, 25 years old; Molly, 24 years old; Sam, 22 years old; Sarah, 21 years old; Scott, 19 years old; Alison, 19 years old
The most rewarding part of being a mom:
To see them now as they are on their own. It was my greatest focus and now I feel my greatest accomplishment to see all of them live with the morals and values that I taught them growing up. That is my most rewarding feeling of being a mother.
The most challenging thing about going to school and being a mom:
It’s actually been an opportunity with my kids being older that they now support me going to school and help me with whatever I need. They have also been my models whenever I needed them to come into the school to help me practice. They are proud of me.
What made you decide to go to school at this point in your life?
I always wanted to do it and at this point in my life, I decided to put me first and pursue what I was passionate about. I actually made a decision five years ago to go to school and someone talked me out of it. They said I needed a 4-year degree to have a good job. I realized after reading and visiting with professionals in the beauty industry that the income opportunity was great and that my success would be based on my own motivation and desire to earn what I wanted in an industry that had such great potential.
What advice do you have for other moms who are contemplating about going back to school?
Don’t wait! Follow your heart as it took me too many years to figure out that my happiness in a job was important to the happiness of my family. I wish I would have done it a long time ago. So in short, I would tell anyone that has thought about this career to check it out and don’t procrastinate.
How do you plan on spending Mother’s Day?
Hopefully with some of my children. I know I won’t get to see them all. Most importantly what I want is to not have to cook for everyone and instead maybe have someone cook for me!
