I have an IT degree, but it's about ten years old. I also have more than twenty years of professional work experience, just not twenty years of IT experience. Now I'm trying to finally get that first real opportunity in the field while refreshing my technical skills, finishing my bachelor's degree, building my portfolio, and figuring out where I actually fit in today's IT job market.

Going back to school at almost 38 wasn't exactly part of the original plan. I've been trying to finish this bachelor's degree for nearly a decade, with work, family, financial survival, and a whole lot of life getting in the way. Now I'm back at Western Oregon University, working full-time, taking 16 credits, and finally getting into the IT coursework I've been working toward for years.