Hello, my name is Douglas Bailey, I am 55 years old, and almost done with my freshman year at Southern New Hampshire University. The reason I am going back to school after almost 40 years is I want to finish my career as a project manager for a commercial contractor. And to do so, you have to have a bachelor's degree, I have spent my entire life in construction, I can literally build a house from the ground up, but after 35 plus years in the field, it takes a toll on your body, I have the beginning stages of arthritis in both hands, both elbows, and my right shoulder, I am guessing my knees will be next, so after over 35 years in construction it's time to get out of the field and into a office. If I could tell the youth of today anything, it would be stay in school, get your education, and if you are choosing the field of construction, follow all regulations, don't lift things by yourself that you need help with, follow all seftey regulations, and take care of your body. I never figured I would be going back to school, to be honest I grew up in poverty, and in foster homes, I was a troubled youth and a bad student, it wasn't that I was dumb, turns out I'm pretty smart(actually very intelligent, not to toot my own wistle), it was that school couldn't hold my attention. I knew at a early age I wouldn't be working in a office, well now I have a chance to prove myself wrong, and I intend to do just that, I will be the firstin my immediate family to ear my bachelor's degree, my oldest brother, who by the way is proud of me but thinks I'm crazy, said no matter what, don't give up. You can do this, and coming from him that means lot, he more or less raised me and my other brother when we had nowhere to go. So even if I don't get any scholarships, I'm going to finish this and give my diploma to him. So he can see everyday he did a good job. I have tried multiple times to get a project managers position, but even with all the experience I have(a lot of experience) they still require a bachelor's degree, which I understand, you don't want to turn over a multi-million dollar project to just anyone, so I am going to do what I should have done lol g ago, get a degree.

I have Been in construction my entire life, over 35 years. All in the field, I am 55 years old now and I would like to finish my career as a commercial project manager (in a office). But to do so I have to have a bachelor's degree, so I am back in school after being away for roughly 38 years. Turns out I am still pretty intelligent, so at least I have that going for me Anyone in the construction field can tell you that after 35 years in the field, it takes a toll on the body, and mine is pretty beat up, that's the reason I would like to finish my career in a office, so maybe by the time I'm 70 I can still walk and move around. Plus I will be the first in my family to finish the bachelor's degree program. So it doesn't matter how long it takes me I will not give up, I refuse to quit. I will have a bachelor's degree hanging in my office before I retire. I knew at a young age the path I was taking in life, I was not much of a people person, so sales or office work was not going to happen, but slowly I started to realize I can't work in the field my entire life, I have arthritis in both hands, and now in one elbow, and one sholder, which can be painfull until they warm up or I loosen them up by doing small exercises before work, but that is now becoming less help then before. To all you young and inspired construction enthusiasts, take care of your body, ask for help before lifting something you shouldn't lift alone, wear your protective gear, and always follow safety instructions. You will thank me later for it.