Recently I had a well-meaning friend ask me if I thought it would be helpful to remove my Ph.D. from my resume. The thought behind this suggestion was that my Ph.D. could make me seem overqualified for certain positions. I appreciated the suggestion as an attempt to be helpful. However, I could not imagine taking away one of the accomplishments from my education journey.

For the same reason I also include my associate degree on my resume. Each of these education milestones are a significant part of who I am today. I am a first generation college graduate who like many others overcame many obstacles to achieve this goal. Let me tell you about my journey.

When I started first grade I knew I wanted to go to college. Never do I remember thinking my education would end at my high school graduation. My parents did not push me or really understand the how or why of this desire. However, they loved me. They tried to be supportive.

I visited campuses, applied to the one I wanted to attend, registered for classes and then my plan fell apart. I regrouped and instead enrolled at Elizabethtown Community College in the spring after my high school graduation. I worked two jobs and completed my associate degree with pride.

Once I began working full-time, the opportunity for my bachelor’s became a reality. This was possible with the help of employer tuition reimbursement benefits. I worked during the day and attended classes in the evening to complete my bachelor’s and graduate magna cum laude.

Fast forward 16 years. After a divorce and a downsized position, with a son in high school, I began my master’s degree. I affectionately called this period the paper plate season of life. This degree was challenging as a single mom, juggling work and a household but thankfully the classes were online. I finished the degree in one and half years by doubling up one semester and taking out student loans.

Once my son graduated from high school and then attained his own bachelor’s degree I began my PhD journey. The online platform made it possible to work and take classes in the evenings. It was not easy and the year I spend working on my dissertation was very stressful. I do not however regret the time or resources I invested into this degree or any of the other three.

Looking back on my education journey, I realized I gained more knowledge than what was in the textbooks. I learned beyond lectures and countless PowerPoint presentations. I grew as a person through the experiences. Each degree helped to make me the person I am today. I will proudly list each of my degrees on my resume. I will also encourage others to keep going. They should grow in their own education journeys as well. I am an educator at heart and I am thankful for each framed document bearing my name as a graduate.