🎙️ Episode 33: Back to School, But Who’s Helping?

Going back to college as a working adult isn’t just about hitting the books—it’s about navigating broken systems, managing 70-hour workweeks, and finding the time to study after everyone else’s needs have been met.

In this episode, Gia gets real about what it means to return to school while working full-time in logistics, caring for family, and still pushing toward something greater. From formatting papers in APA while coordinating freight, to the mental weight of financial aid mix-ups—this episode speaks to every adult who’s gone back to school for a reason bigger than themselves.

After completing her AAS in Supply Chain Management, Gia thought she was done. But now she’s back—pursuing a Bachelor’s in Project Management with a minor in HR—because when you know there’s more in you, you go for it.

In this episode:

• Why finishing matters more than a title
• What no one tells you about adult learning and financial aid
• How real-world logistics doesn’t match outdated academic expectations
• The toll of juggling work, school, caregiving, and exhaustion
• Why SMART goals and self-made systems are survival tools
• Encouragement for rewriting your story, one deadline at a time

“We carve out the time—after work, after dinner, after bedtime. We show up for everyone else, then sit down and meet our deadlines. Why? Because we want better. For them. And for us.”

“People say, ‘You brought this on yourself.’ Maybe we did. But we did it to build wealth and knowledge. Because it’s never too late to finish what you started.”

💬 Like what you hear?
 Rate ⭐, review 📝, and share this episode with someone who's carrying it all—and still showing up.

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💬 Like what you hear?
Rate ⭐, review 📝, and share this episode with someone who’s doing the hard thing anyway.

—

🎧 Subscribe to Logistics at a Crossroads wherever you get your podcasts.
Let’s keep navigating the chaos, together.

Transcript

HOST (Gia):

"What does it really cost to chase a dream—when life won’t slow down for you to catch it?"

Welcome to Logistics at a Crossroads — the podcast where real stories meet real careers. It’s me, your girl Gia, and today? We’re pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to go back to school as working adults.

It’s not just a time commitment, it’s a test of endurance, identity, and whether the systems built to support us are even showing up.

“I didn’t go back to school because I had to. I went back because I deserved to finish what I started.”

SEGMENT 1: Why I Went Back

After 25+ years in logistics, I didn’t need a degree to survive. But I wanted one to grow. I wanted to finish what I started in 1994—not for a title, not for a raise, but for me. For my peace.

I finished my Associate of Applied Science in Supply Chain Management in August of 2024 and I thought, “That’s it. I’ve done it. I’m good.”

And now? I’m tackling my bachelor’s in project management with a minor in Human Resources. Because when you know there's more in you, you go for it. Fully stepping back into the classroom. Even if it’s virtual, let me tell you—it’s still just as real. Discussions, papers, tests, deadlines… all stacked on top of a 50-to-70-hour workweek.

 “Sometimes the best legacy isn’t what you give—it’s what you finish.”

SEGMENT 2: The Unexpected Challenge

I knew school would stretch me. APA formatting, citation juggling, online platforms—I expected that.

But nobody tells you the real roadblock is administration.
Emails that go unanswered. Refunds delayed by weeks. A team of five managing the financial futures of thousands.

We say we’re building pathways for adult learners—but right now, we’re patching potholes with duct tape and prayers.

“Emails go unanswered. Refunds are delayed. And somehow we’re still expected to push through.”

And you know what else makes it harder?

Trying to relearn how to write academic papers in APA, MLA, or even Chicago style—when none of that applies to the real world I work in.

In logistics, I don’t format reports to a citation standard. I build them to solve a problem.
 Payroll systems don’t come with test questions.
 And accounting? It's not boxed into perfect scenarios—it’s flexible, creative, and built to fit the chaos we face every day.

The real world has missed deadlines, ports shut down, tariff strikes, rerouted vessels, labor shortages, and freight delays caused by literal pirates.
 And yet… I’m expected to pretend formatting a paper just right is the ultimate skill.

“We say we want real-world readiness—but we’re still testing people like it’s 1996.”

There’s a mismatch here—and adult learners feel it more than anyone.

SEGMENT 3: Real Struggles, Real Stats

Let me give it to you straight: I work anywhere from 50 to 70 hours a week.
 Logistics doesn’t care if I have a paper due. Freight doesn’t stop moving just because I’m mentally exhausted.

And yet—I show up.
 Not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it.

Here’s the truth: most adult learners don’t fail out—they get squeezed out.
By red tape.
By poor systems.
By burnout no one talks about.

“Most adult learners don’t drop out—they get squeezed out by broken systems.”

Sheldon and Yu’s 2021 study backs this up. When adult students have structure, they thrive.

We don’t lack drive—we lack infrastructure.

And we’re not just juggling work and class. Most adults going back to school are also caregivers. Getting the kids off to school and practice. Helping with homework. Or spending their only day off making sure their aging parents are okay.

So, when do we study? After everyone else is fed, settled, and asleep. Then we show up to our desk and get to work.

“We carve out the time—after work, after dinner, after bedtime. We show up for everyone else, then sit down and meet our deadlines. Why? Because we want better. For them. And for us.”

People say, "You brought this on yourself."   Maybe we did.

But we did it to build wealth and knowledge. Because no matter where the road takes us—it's never too late to finish what you start.

SEGMENT 4: Finding the Fix

My nieces and nephews reminded me of the version of myself I left behind. And I realized: I couldn’t preach ambition and perseverance without showing them what it looked like.

🎤 “Sometimes the best legacy isn’t what you give—it’s what you finish.”

So, since so many of us adults heading back into the classroom lacked a true infrastructure. We must build our own. I went back to what logistics has given, and taught me... I went back to what logistics taught me:
 Plan the work. Work the plan.

Instead of “try harder,” I say:

• Finish this paper by Thursday.
• Study two hours tonight.
• Email Financial Aid by 10 a.m.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not easy. But it works.
And it’s mine.

“SMART goals saved my academic life. ‘Do better’ became: finish by Thursday, study tonight, send the email by 10.”

“If the system won’t build a path for me, I’ll build my own.”

We may not be able to overhaul everything—but we can reclaim our process.

SEGMENT 5: The Takeaway

If you’re an adult learner, this journey is bigger than a syllabus.
 You are not just earning credits—you’re reclaiming your confidence.

“Going back to school isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about rewriting your story.”

You’re not behind.
 You’re not too late.
 You’re not alone.

“You’re walking a path that wasn’t built for you—and still making progress.”

That? That’s power.

“If I can juggle logistics, deadlines, and APA formatting—so can you.”

Thanks for being here with me on Logistics at a Crossroads.
If this episode hit home, share it. Rate it. Or send it to the person who thinks they can’t start over.

Because if I can keep going—so can they.

Until next time—stay strong, stay steady, and keep holding the line.
 And know I’ll be right here… navigating the crossroads with you.