Choosing Quality: My Journey from Career Goals to Cherished Moments

Today, I received a call from the Admissions office at California State University, San Bernardino. I had forgotten that I had enrolled in the bachelor’s program for Administration of Justice. Just three months ago, I graduated with an associate degree in Criminal Justice. My goal has been to advance my career, and I believed that focusing on Fraud and Risk would be an excellent route. Currently, I am the Digital Payments Manager at a Credit Union and have worked in fraud-related roles for the past twenty years.

I decided to withdraw shortly after my diagnosis. I was in the second-to-last semester when I had surgery. Determined to complete my studies, I had my husband bring me my laptop while I was recovering. I finished my last semester from home, despite the challenges of mental fog, chemo, radiation, appointments, a full college course load, and trying to reintegrate back to work. It was awful, but I did it.

So, why did I decide to withdraw? It comes down to quality of life. I tried to convince myself to complete my bachelor’s degree, even feeling guilty by thinking about others who had Glioblastoma before me, like Senator John McCain. We saw pictures of him walking Capitol Hill, looking frail but battling this awful disease like a champ. I could write an entire paper about McCain's many accomplishments and how he stood against his party to support LGBT rights, gun regulations, and campaign finance reform. The man was a legend and worked in the Senate until his death.

So why am I talking about John McCain? Because his incredible life spanned eighty-one years, filled with numerous accomplishments, and he chose to work until the end. I find that admirable, but that is not my journey. I have decided not to continue school so that I can spend my time with my husband and family. Unfortunately, I have only forty-seven years, not eighty-one. My time is short to finish making my memories, so I choose quality. To me, quality means being with those I love, feeling loved, and doing what makes me happy. Right now, working does that for me. I enjoy writing, swimming every day, seeing my nephew smile, and being with my dog. Hearing stories from my parents, having my husband hug me when I am sad, listening to my sister tell me about her day, and even listening to my husband complain about me not loading the dishwasher correctly—these things all make me smile.

These are the things I want to do to have my quality of life. My journey is not about titles or degrees but about moments. It is about cherishing the time I have, embracing every smile, every story, and every small joy. In the end, these memories matter most, and this is how I choose to live my life. Do not forget to listen to your inner voice and always consider what quality of life means to you. We only get one life.