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Begin my college career at the College of Charleston Honors College
- Attending college has always been a personal goal and an expectation of mine, and attending the College of Charleston will allow me to immerse myself in a history-rich environment in which I can learn and grow as a perspective Historic Preservationist.
- I have already secured the opportunity to pursue this goal: Being accepted to the Honors College required a high GPA, a lot of community service, certain test score standards, and a thorough application with multiple essays.
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Volunteer at the Preservation Society of Charleston's Fall Home Tours
-This will give me my first glimpse of how events run by societies and organizations like these work, also giving me experience and connections needed in the future.
-To become a Home Tour Greeter or House Docent I will have to complete online volunteer course training sessions and an application process. -
Begin an internship with the Preservation Society of Charleston
-This internship will hopefully lead me toward future connections with established members of the Charleston Historic and Academic community for future job opportunities following college, also allowing me to observe and learn in my desired field.
-I will have to keep a high GPA my freshman year, stay very involved in volunteer work, and pursue an extensive application process to secure this internship. -
Move into my first off campus apartment with friends
-There is not enough on campus housing for all CofC students. Additionally, renting an apartment will allow me the opportunity to claim SC residency so I can get in-state tuition at CofC. Also, living with friends will force me to stay organized, pay bills, and be a responsible home renter.
-I will have to get a job prior to August to help my parents pay for bills as well as daily needs. -
Begin leading Carriage Tours in Charleston's downtown area
-At this point I will have attained a comprehensive knowledge of Charleston's history and city landscape and will be capable of leading hundreds of tourists per summer on carriage tours throughout the downtown area.
-I will have to do very well in my history courses at CofC and prove my knowledge to the Carriage Tour Company of my choosing. -
Begin an internship with the Historic Charleston Foundation
-The Historic Charleston Foundation is an even more prestigious organization than is the Preservation Society of Charleston and will prepare me for a lifetime of civic involvement and historic preservation in Charleston.
-I will have to endure a rigorous application process and prove my capabilites to the Foundation's staff. -
Graduate from College of Charleston and present/publish my Honors Thesis
-My Honors Thesis (much like a Masters Thesis) will be a piece I will work on for nearly my entire four years at CofC, and will be a work I am very proud of. It will prepare my for graduate school and get my name out in the Academic Community. -
Begin my first paid job with the Historic Charleston Foundation
-This will be my first paid position doing what I love and will support me as I prepare to attend and pay for graduate school.
-I will have to secure many internships and connections before receiving a job like this right out of college. -
Begin Law School at UNC Chapel Hill
-I will concentrate on Historic Preservation Law throughout my three years as a law student while working with the Chapel Hill Historical Society that will prepare me to protect and defend historic sites in Charleston (or anywhere in the nation) in my future. -
Graduate from Law School
-Obtaining a higher level of education will open employment doors for me in the future, providing better job security and a better future. -
Gett Married
-Getting married will start a new chapter of family in my life, providing me with a lifetime of happiness as well as improved financial security.
-In order to get married, I will first have to fall in love and date the person I am in love with for at least a year (if not longer) before getting engaged. -
Begin partnernship with an established law firm in Charleston, SC specializing in Historic Preservation
-This is the job all my years of education and work have prepared me for, and will be the career that I will occupy until retirement, providing me with a steady source of income and fulfillment.
-In order to become an attorney with an established firm, I will have to graduate from law school, pass the bar, and prove my legal skills to other partners at the firm. -
Buy my first home with my spouse
-Buying a small starter home in Mt. Pleasant or James Island, SC, right outside of Charleston, will allow for a short commute time for both of us into the city for work while also offering a lower cost of living than in the city of Charleston itself.
-In order to purchase a home, my husband and I will have to show proof of good credit and have steady jobs that will allow us to pay monthly mortgage payments while still having enough for necessities and money to put into savings. -
The birth of my first child
-My first child will mark the start of the family unit in our home, but will also place a greater financial strain on my husband and myself.
-In order to support a child I will have to be prepared to fulfill my motherly duties, including a short three month maternity leave from my career. After maternity leave, I will have to balance my career and motherhood. (I plan on this working out because I will likely be able to work on some of my case load from home during the days, or at night.) -
Birth of my second child
-Having a second child will make a family of four, which will make my commitments as a mother even greater, possibly putting a greater strain on my career.
-In order to have my second child, I will have to take another maternity leave, and possibly consider a more continual time away from work to dedicate to my growing family. -
Birth of my third child
-My third child will be my last child, and will make us a family of five, making family my first priority in life.
-In order to fulfill my duties as a mother I will now take a ten year leave from my career. My husband and I have been living in our home and working steadily for seven years, giving us the financial stability for us to become a single income home. (My husband is a doctor so it works out.) -
Go back to my career
-At 45 years old, with my oldest child being 16, old enough to drive his younger siblings around, I will be able to go back to work in Historic Preservation Law in Charleston until retirement 22 years later.
-Going back to work will require me to give up quality time with my family, but will set our family up to allow our children more freedom in deciding where they hope to go to school without student loans like I did. -
Move to our second home
-My husband and I have made a smart financial decision by remaining in our first home in Mt. Pleasant for 20 years. Because we have paid off our home and have no mortgage, we can afford to sell it (making a profit) and move to Charleston's historic downtown area where we can comfortably raise our family and live closer to our work.
-In order to afford this new address, we will have to make smart financial decisions- keeping our jobs, and spending frugally. -
Retirement
-In March of 2062, at age 65, I will retire. My husband will also retire during this year, allowing us to focus on our family, and enjoying the life we have been saving up for for years.
-In order to afford to retire at 65, my husband and I will have to place large amounts of money into our savings account and spend frugally. -
Move to retirement dream home
-At age 67, my husband and I will be able to afford to move to our dream home on a remote historic plantation just south of Charleston on Edisto Island, allowing us to truly fulfill our dreams of living a true lowcountry life, away from the business of the city- a beautiful place for our family to spend time together.
-In order to achieve this dream, we will have to continue to save our money to afford this retirement lifestyle.
