“Back to school” carries different meanings, often shaped by age and expectations. I grew up in an environment where studying was synonymous with progress — the most reliable path to overcome poverty and achieve success. Education seemed to follow a predictable trajectory: high school, then college. You earn your diploma, secure a job, and move forward. That was the blueprint.
But life does not come with a secret formula and when plans are interrupted, it is easy to feel behind. There is a persistent belief that we are “late” if we do not meet milestones at the expected time. I believed that myself. And when those diplomas are not achieved at the “right” moment, the question inevitably arises: Is it too late to study?
In 2026, at 37 years old, I find myself back in school. Yet this journey began in 2019, when I set out to pursue a master’s degree with the hope of becoming the first person in my family to complete graduate studies. I could already see myself walking across the stage in a graduation gown with my family in the audience, proud of what that moment would represent.
Being accepted into the Master of International Affairs program at Baruch College felt like validation — proof that the dream was possible. I worked harder, saved money, and explored grants and scholarships to make it happen. As an immigrant, this would be my first time pursuing graduate studies in the United States. I felt ready.
Just days before the semester began, I received a call: my father had suffered a stroke in our hometown of Cali, Colombia. Within hours, I purchased a ticket and returned home. When I saw his condition, I knew I had to stay. Life had shifted my timeline.
I spent that semester caring for him and exhausted my savings. When I returned to New York in January 2020, I enrolled in three courses and immersed myself in the academic experience. For a brief moment, it felt like everything was aligning. Then COVID-19 arrived.
The pandemic disrupted campuses, families, and financial stability. I completed my first semester remotely, but by the second, both my emotional energy and resources were depleted. My family faced serious health challenges, including my brother’s hospitalization. Balancing work and responsibility, I gradually stepped away from my studies, but I always wanted to return.
I was looking for a way to continue my studies at Baruch, but commuting back to Manhattan regularly was not feasible with work. In the end, returning to CUNY was the goal. Eventually, I attended an information session at CUNY SPS and started exploring its programs. At first, I was not fully convinced because I really value the experience of being part of a campus community—having access to the library, visiting the campus, and feeling connected to the academic life in the City. What ultimately swayed me to enroll at SPS as an MS in Business Management and Leadership student was the flexibility of the program while still being part of CUNY. But most importantly, I wanted to graduate and receive my degree in person. That experience matters a lot to me.
After years of the lingering questions (Why do I want to study? What feels unfinished?) I finally understood. I did not want to return out of pressure, urgency, or fear that time was passing. I wanted to return with intention, not because of age, but because the opportunity to study is important to me. Even now, I see it as a way to keep moving forward.
