Despite what some may say, that college degree is never out of reach. Just look at Nina Ellaine Dizon.
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Society often likes to push the idea that completing your education should be a top priority before you do anything else in life. But the reality is that life doesn’t always work like that. There are moments when a straight shot in schooling is not on the cards due to a variety of factors. People do drop out of school and embark on a new path for themselves. But just because life decided that it had other plans for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t go back to finish your education. Just take a look at businesswoman and all-around body-positive baddie Nina Ellaine Dizon.
The Colourette Cosmetics and Fresh Formula founder has been open about being a college dropout. While she didn’t let that stop her from starting her businesses, she did achieve a long-held goal by finally finishing college as she recently received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Marketing Management, from the Lyceum of the Philippines University. It’s an inspiring moment that we can take some important life lessons from, some of which we list below.
YOU CAN STILL FINISH YOUR EDUCATION WHILE WORKING ON YOUR CAREER
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School is tough and can drain even the best of us. But just because your life has shifted to other possibilities doesn’t mean you can no longer get a degree. As they say, when there’s a will, there’s a way. If you want to finish your education, you can do so while juggling a career.
Even though Nina has a busy career handling multiple businesses, she still set her sights on her schooling. “Despite the success of my brands, completing my education was a persistent goal in mind, as I deeply understood the value of learning and ongoing innovation,” she shared in an Instagram post. So, don’t think that a career is enough to stop you from going to school.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET THAT DEGREE
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While it is often assumed that education is something we get when we’re young, education has no time limit or deadline. Just because you weren’t able to finish school or were delayed doesn’t mean you won’t be able to complete it. Many colleges, schools, and universities allow students in their 30s, 40s, and beyond to either enroll for the first time or finish the degree they dropped. A family and a career weren’t enough to make Nina feel that it was too late to get that degree. Life isn’t a race, and we all have our own pace.
IT’S OK TO KEEP IT REAL ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
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The stigma against people who didn’t finish school is real, which pushes some to not talk about their experiences or even lie about their educational attainment. Some think that there’s a shame in not being able to finish school in a regular amount of years, but many people are also in that same boat. Speaking up about these things can help destigmatize the idea that a dropout is someone to look down upon.
For Nina, while she admitted that she wasn’t proud of being a college dropout, she still was honest and open about her experiences. “People would often label me an inspiration—a college dropout who went on to establish renowned brands like Colourette and Fresh Formula. What they couldn’t see was that I wasn’t proud of the dropout label. Instead, I was unapologetic about my hustle and the hurdles I faced as an entrepreneur without a diploma.” There’s no shame in trying again and getting that diploma later in life nor should you feel embarrassed about it.
Continue Reading: 10 Young Stars Who Juggle Both Going To School And Having A Career
