Happy Anniversary Second Chance!

This blog turns 1- year- old today and I couldn't be more excited! A year goes by SO fast. I've learned a lot in this past year and have had a lot of ups and downs. Most importantly, I have grown and I hope that you all have grown with me!

My top 5 accomplishments over the past year:

1. Graduated with a Master's degree
2. Became a contributing writer for Fastweb 
3. Became a contributing writer for Monster College
4. Had an article published on Back2College.com
5. I maintained this blog even when I wanted to give up

Top 5 lessons I've learned over the past year:

1. Giving up is not an option
2. Rejection won't kill me
3. There is a lot of help and information available if I look for it
4. I do not have to know everything before I can do anything
5. I am braver than I thought

So how about you? What have you accomplished this year, and what have you learned? Please help me to celebrate this 1st anniversary of "Second Chance" by remembering, "It is never too late to be who you might have been."

Second Chance Essay Contest

This blog was created as a place for adults who have a dream and want to gain inspiration, and encouragement to go after those dreams. No matter what age the dreamer is, the idea that it is never too late... is what keeps us going.  

I love reading about the successes of other adults who have achieved their dreams later in life. Inspiring stories such as these help us all to believe that we can do the same.

Last year I shared my own story of having my dreams deferred, and how I am now working to make my dreams come true. Now it is your turn...

Have you gone after a dream later in your life? Have you gone back to school, started a new business, traveled to a country you always wanted to visit, relocated, gotten healthy? Whatever your dream may be, I want to know what you have done or are doing to make that dream come true!

Tell our readers in an essay of up to 500 words maximum what you have overcome to pursue your dreams. Whether you have already completed your goal, or you have only just begun, please share.

• 1st prize will be your choice of a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, Bestbuy, or Amazon plus the publication of your winning essay on this blog as a featured guest post.
• 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive publication of their essays on the blog in a shared guest post.

To Enter:

Send your submission to: kizzypreston@gmail.com. In the subject line put your lastname-contest. For example: Preston-Contest. Paste your entire essay in the body of your email. No attachments please.

The deadline to enter is March 4, 2012 by midnight EST. The winner will be announced here on this blog on March 28, 2012.

There is no fee to enter.

If you know someone who has a great story to tell, please pass this post along to them.