Carry On

An essay about moving my life forward no matter where life takes me.

Jun 11, 2026

Take a look at this image. What does it evoke in you? What if what you're doing to try and “carry on” with your life garnered no results? I guess my line of thinking here from past experiences would be to in fact, carry on, try something else, and then re-evaluate.

There's been many a time in my life when something I was trying to accomplish something and left me feeling completely empty and non-productive. This, I believe used to lead me to jump from one career path to another.

I was going to be a radio DJ. Never materialized. I had intentions out of high school to study broadcasting in college. I quickly realized that I wasn't ready for college. Hell, I barely survived high school.

So, I worked fast food, in a grocery store, and in hotel room service. I then decided it was time. I got accepted into a broadcasting school, and a former friend and I moved about 50 miles north so that I could finally pursue that dream.

Well…before I had a chance to start, I had to take a job in order to help pay for living expenses. That ship sunk, and I quit pursuing that dream.

So, then, let's look at carrying on if you get less than desirable results. One time in my life, I was fired (downsized). I had just about finished my bachelor's degree. I then took a job at another grocery store. My now 15 year old daughter was then just three months old. I had to work. My wife had a fairly good paying job at the time, so I was allowed to finish my degree and, even though I had a job, it wasn't quite satisfying or lucrative enough.

I took a temporary job in medical billing, something I had done previously before the downsizing (see above).

Well, that job lasted three months, and they had no more work for me, so they had to relieve me of my duties.

So what's a guy to do? One with a new bachelor's degree and a new baby in the house. In the county that I live in allows you to become a substitute teacher.

That morphed into starting to pursue my Masters in teaching, working for various early education schools, and eventually, to the career as a Special Education Aide that I have now been doing for almost 7 years.

So, that's an example (for me) of taking a bad situation, carrying on, and turning it into a passionate career.

Which leads me to where I get “great results”:

So, the so-called “great” result is that after 42 years of life, I had finally found the most rewarding career that I've ever had in my life.

There is a “down” side. That Master's Degree in Teaching? Since my mom passed 7 years ago, I've been able to take two more classes…that STILL, to this day, leaves me two classes and licensure tests away from completing this degree that I began pursuing some 15 years ago.

I still am doing a job that I absolutely love, but the teaching, not likely to ever happen, because who wants a teacher starting at my older age? Not to mention, I can no longer afford any more education.

Still, I carry on.

If there is one thing I have learned in this life, it's to never stop moving forward. I may complain. I may stress. I may feel like throwing in the towel. But, I press on. Because to me, I do not have a choice.

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