How I Earned My Bachelor’s Degree in 4 Months and Changed My Life

Hello, I’m Serfronya, and welcome to my blog. Today, I’m excited to share the story of how I fast-tracked my bachelor's degree and earned it in just four months. Due to unexpected and extreme circumstances, I found myself needing to earn my degree as quickly as possible. I’m proud to say I did just that, and looking back, I’ve identified several key strategies that helped me achieve this goal. My hope is that by sharing these insights, I can inspire and guide you to do the same.

1. Cultivate Unshakable Self-Belief

The first and most critical step on this journey was cultivating an unshakable belief in myself. You must be absolutely convinced that you can achieve your goal, no matter how daunting it seems. In my case, I was suddenly a displaced homemaker, and the pressure to turn my financial situation around was immense. I didn’t have the luxury of spending years in school, so I needed to act fast. I turned to YouTube and Reddit for inspiration, where I discovered stories of people who had earned their degrees in incredibly short periods. For instance, I came across someone who had completed a business degree in just 3 to 6 months. This showed me that it was possible, and it fueled my determination. If others could do it, so could I.

2. Stay Positive and Master Your Emotions

Keeping a positive attitude and mastering my emotions was another crucial element of my success. Now, I won’t pretend this was easy, especially during such a challenging time in my life. Emotionally, I was going through a lot, but I knew that dwelling on negative feelings would only hinder my progress. I developed a technique to manage these emotions: whenever a negative thought entered my mind, I would acknowledge it, let it float through my consciousness like a passing cloud, and then let it drift away. This allowed me to refocus on my studies and stay on track. Remember, the difficulties you face are temporary, and maintaining a positive mindset will help you push through.

3. Create and Execute a Detailed Plan

Planning is everything when it comes to achieving a goal as ambitious as earning a degree in a short time. I spent a significant amount of time journaling about the possibilities and then researching how to accelerate my education. This led me to discover Sophia Learning and Western Governors University (WGU). Sophia Learning offers an affordable option where you can earn college credits for $99 a month (at the time of this post). You can take multiple courses during that time, and many universities, including WGU, accept these credits. Over two months, I earned 41 credit hours through Sophia, which accounted for 33% of my degree. When I enrolled at WGU, I completed the remaining 67% of my coursework in just two more months. The key to my success was finding a university that offered competency-based education, allowing me to progress at my own pace.

4. Set Firm Ground Rules to Stay Focused

To maintain focus and momentum, I set firm ground rules for myself. One of the most important rules was that once I started a class, I wouldn’t take a break until I finished it. This meant waking up early, sometimes as early as 4 a.m., and dedicating my entire day to studying. Whether it took one day or several, I stayed committed to that class until it was completed. This discipline was particularly crucial for challenging subjects like accounting, which required intense focus and perseverance. Setting and sticking to these ground rules helped me stay on course and avoid procrastination.

5. Balance Intensity with Rest to Avoid Burnout

While it’s essential to push yourself, it’s equally important to avoid burnout. Although I didn’t take breaks while working on individual classes, I did allow myself to rest between them. After completing a course, I would assess how I felt and take a break if needed. This approach helped me maintain my energy and enthusiasm throughout the process. Without planning it, I fell into a natural rhythm of taking a one-day break every 5 to 7 days. This balance of intensity and rest was key to sustaining my momentum and avoiding burnout.

6. Seek Support from a Positive Circle

Support from others can be a game-changer when you’re pursuing a challenging goal. While it’s possible to succeed on your own, having a supportive circle makes the journey much easier. I was fortunate to have my brother, a dear aunt, and my children as my support system. I shared my goals with them because I knew they would encourage me. Importantly, I avoided discussing my plans with anyone who might be negative or unsupportive. If you’re in a situation where you don’t have external support, remember that you are enough. You can still achieve your goals by believing in yourself and staying focused.

7. Visualize Your Success to Stay Motivated

Visualization was another powerful tool that kept me motivated throughout this journey. I would often picture myself holding my degree, receiving the certificate in the mail, and even interviewing for a management position at a Fortune 500 company. These mental images were so vivid that they felt real, and they helped me stay motivated even on the toughest days. Visualization is a way of mentally rehearsing your success, and for me, it worked exactly as I had imagined. I earned my degree, received the certificate, and landed the job I had envisioned.

You Can Do It Too

My journey to earning a degree in four months was challenging, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I was 48 years old at the time, having spent 20 years as a homeschool mom and stay-at-home wife. Pivoting to a completely different direction in such a short time was daunting, but I did it, and so can you. Whether you’re in a similar situation or facing a different challenge, the strategies I’ve shared can help you achieve your goals. Believe in yourself, stay positive, create a solid plan, set firm ground rules, avoid burnout, seek support, and visualize your success.

For more insights and personal stories, be sure to check out my YouTube video that dives deeper into how I earned my degree in just four months. You can watch it here.

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Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more with you in the next post.