Tips with Marie

Category: school

  • June felt like a finish line and a starting point all at once.

    I ran my first marathon this month.

    Twenty-six point freaking two miles.

    A distance I once thought only existed in movies and Boston qualifications, and now it’s part of my story. Not just a medal or a Strava entry, but proof of every 5 AM wake-up, every Sunday long run, every time I said “yes” to the uncomfortable.

    But that wasn’t even the most transformational part of my month.

    Earlier in June, I went on a spiritual retreat with my mom. We shared silence. Tears. Laughter. Prayers. It was healing in a way that no gym or run ever could be. Our bond feels deeper. Like we’re finally seeing each other—not just as mother and daughter, but as two women trying to be whole.

    I also started this blog.

    Back in February, I hit “publish” on my first ever blog post.

    What started as a space to talk about running quickly turned into something more—

    a journal, a mission, a reset button.

    I called it Tips with Marie, but in many ways, it’s been a love letter to myself.

    To the woman rebuilding her life.

    To the mom learning how to chase her goals without guilt.

    To anyone out there trying to figure it all out mid-stride.

    I never expected to grow so much, or feel so seen just by writing out my truth. And honestly? I’m just getting started.

    June Was a Wake-Up Call

    This month forced me to confront some hard truths:

    I had been overtraining but underhealing. I was chasing “strong” but avoiding softness. I wanted discipline but forgot to practice grace.

    So I pivoted.

    I joined a new CrossFit gym—not just for the gains, but for the community and a clean slate. I’m learning to find strength without burnout. Progress without punishment.

    The Halfway Check-In: 2025 Goals

    We’re halfway through the year, so let’s rewind to what I set out to do in January.

    Goals I set at the beginning of the year:

    ✅ Run a marathon

    ✅ Get closer to my mom

    ✅ Build my blog/brand

    ✅ Wake up at 5 AM consistently

    ✅ Stay sober

    ✅ Pass my classes

    ⚠️ Heal emotionally

    ⚠️ Get financially free

    ⚠️ Believe I’m enough

    Some boxes are checked. Some are still messy.

    But growth isn’t linear, and I’ve stopped expecting perfection from the woman who’s still becoming.

    What’s Next?

    I’m not chasing a “new me.”

    I’m coming home to her.

    July isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about refining the habits that already work.

    Running to feel alive, not just fast.

    Eating to fuel, not to fix.

    Writing to process, not perform.

    Loving myself without conditions.

    I’ll keep choosing discipline over drama, faith over fear, and purpose over pressure.

    Let’s see where the next six months take us.

    This isn’t the end. It’s the halfway magic.

    Want to reflect with me?

    Here’s a journaling prompt you can use:

    📝 What have you already accomplished this year that you didn’t celebrate enough?

    📝 What part of your January self would be proud of you today?

    📝 What are you ready to release before you step into the next half of 2025?

  • Rediscovering Yourself as a Mom: A Personal Journey

    Rediscovering Yourself as a Mom: A Personal Journey

    HAPPY MOTHERS DAY !

    Story time:

    I got pregnant my senior year.

    And just like that, everything shifted.

    I thought my dreams had an expiration date. That my new job title was just “Mom” and my only role was to support my partner and raise my son. My own ambitions? I quietly packed them away, like the college brochures I stopped opening.

    I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the moment I started losing my sense of identity.

    When Guilt Gets Loud

    The thing about being a mom is… no one really tells you how much guilt gets baked into the role. Especially when you start doing something for you.

    When I decided to go back to school, I was proud—but the guilt came creeping in fast.

    Should I really be leaving them this long?

    Am I selfish for wanting more than motherhood?

    It’s this unspoken rule society throws at moms: you’re supposed to give everything, all the time. But no one talks about what happens when there’s nothing left to give to yourself.

    The Chaos (and Comedy) of Doing It All

    Let me paint you a picture:

    I tell my boys every night, “Okay, I’m going to wake up at 5 AM and go run tomorrow!”

    And recently, one of them looked me dead in the face and said,

    “No, you’re not. You sleep in.”

    Called. Out.

    Nothing humbles you like being dragged by your own kids. So guess who got up and actually ran the next morning? Me—because I had to reclaim my mom-cred.

    Despite the chaos (and there’s a lot of it), my kids cheer me on.

    After a workout: “How many miles today, Mom?”

    During their soccer practices: “You got this, brother!” when one of them looks tired.

    They’re learning. They’re watching. And it makes the mess worth it.

    Finding Myself Again

    Motherhood stripped me of a lot—but it also helped me rebuild.

    I didn’t find myself instead of being a mom. I found myself through being one.

    It took time. Therapy. Late-night breakdowns. Early morning runs.

    But now I’m back in school—not for the title or the paycheck, but for the freedom it will bring.

    The freedom to build a life where I can show up for them and myself.

    To be fully present in their lives without feeling like I had to abandon my own.

    This Mother’s Day, I’m Celebrating the Comeback

    I’m not “just” a mom. I’m a student, a runner, a woman rebuilding her life one goal at a time.

    And if you’re a mom reading this feeling like you lost yourself somewhere along the way—I see you. You’re not broken. You’re evolving.

    Motherhood may have shaken your identity, but it can also help you rebuild it stronger.

    Your Turn:

    What part of yourself are you rediscovering? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hype you up.

    And if you enjoyed this post, buy me a coffee (or send me motivation for my next 5 AM run—I clearly need it)!

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  • You’re Not Too Late: Pursuing Education After Parenthood

    You’re Not Too Late: Pursuing Education After Parenthood

    I always wanted to go back to school. But when I got pregnant in high school, I convinced myself that my life was over. My only purpose? Being a mom. My ambitions? Gone. It felt like everything I had dreamed of was officially canceled.

    But if you’re reading this and thinking “same”—I want to know: What moment in your life made you feel like you had to hit pause? Drop it in the comments. Let’s get real from the start. 👇

    From Motherhood to “Maybe There’s More”

    For years, I believed my only purpose was raising my son. And don’t get me wrong—I love being a mom. But I also felt like I had lost me in the process.

    That invisible question kept showing up in the quiet moments:
    Is this all I’ll ever be?


    At one of my old jobs, I worked with a doctor who unintentionally changed everything. We catered to nursing homes across Texas, which meant spending long hours in the car together. Our conversations started with small talk and turned into something bigger—deep, honest chats about life and ambition.

    We even made it a thing:

    “Marie’s Career of the Week.”
    Because truthfully? I had no clue what I wanted to do.

    He’d throw out a career idea, I’d Google it like my life depended on it. Over time, I realized something powerful: No matter what path I picked, I had to go back to school. That’s when it clicked.

    🎓 COVID, Classes, and Course Corrections

    So I did what any newly-inspired person does—I enrolled in online classes right as COVID hit. And just like that… life hit back harder.

    Between parenting, working, and trying to stay afloat in a global pandemic, school took a back seat. I stepped away, promising myself I’d “go back later.”

    Then, last year—I called my own bluff.
    I decided to stop waiting for the perfect time and just go for it. Time to get my degree hotter. (Yes, I said what I said.)

    The Hard Part: Studying, Failing & Feeling Cooked

    Let me set the record straight—this is not a Disney princess montage where I waltz back into class and everything magically works out.

    First semester back? I failed every exam.
    And not because I wasn’t trying. But because I had no clue how to study anymore. Apparently, there’s a system to this stuff.

    Also? I’m older than most of my classmates. Not by decades, but enough to feel it.

    And then there’s the slang. One day, a classmate said I looked “cooked.” I still don’t know what that meant. Tired? Dead? Roasted? Either way—I nodded and moved on.

    Emotionally, it was rough.
    All my life, I was told I was smart. So sitting there, flunking every test? Crushing. But instead of quitting, I pushed through. This semester, I’m passing with 70s—and honestly? That’s progress.

    Overcoming the Mental Marathon

    Going back to school as an adult isn’t just hard—it’s vulnerable. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 7 million college students are over the age of 25. That’s a whole lot of us chasing dreams after diapers, bills, and burnout. 22.4% of Hispanic or Latina women aged 25 and over actually earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. I want to be included in that 22.4%.

    And here’s what’s helping me push forward:

    • Caffeine. So much caffeine.
    • Visualizing graduation. I picture my parents and kids watching me walk the stage. That keeps me going.
    • Remembering this: Time’s gonna pass anyway—might as well pass too.

    And honestly? I wouldn’t even be here without that doctor.(Which shout-out to Dr. Moore) He never judged me. He just asked the right questions—the kind that made me stop and think: What do YOU want, Marie?

    ✨ Why This Story Matters (Maybe Even to You)

    I’m sharing this because I know someone out there feels like they missed their shot. Like their goals have an expiration date. Let me say this loud and clear:

    You’re not too old. You’re not too late. And your dreams are not canceled.

    The obstacles? Yeah, they’re real. But so is your ability to overcome them. Whether it’s failure, imposter syndrome, or Gen Z slang—you’ve got this.

    💬 Your turn: What’s made you feel “cooked” recently? Or what dream have you been putting off? Drop it below—I want to cheer you on. ⬇️that’s made YOU feel “cooked” recently? Drop it in the comments below. ⬇️

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  • The Realities of Going Back to School: Lessons Learned

    The Realities of Going Back to School: Lessons Learned

    When I first went back to school, I thought I’d crush it. Straight A’s. 4.0 GPA. Maybe even get a little “wow she’s so put together” award. I really believed I could just Google my way through everything.

    Spoiler alert: You cannot.

    Turns out, college professors actually expect you to learn things. The nerve.

    Somewhere between crying over assignments and being personally attacked by Canvas notifications, I realized I had it all wrong. I thought success meant perfection. But now?

    Success looks like turning things in on time.

    It looks like studying not to memorize—but to understand. Like actually understanding the entire test and thinking, “Wait… I’m not dumb?? I just needed to learn how these dang things are set up.” (Character development.)

    “School Isn’t for Everyone” and Other Thoughts That Keep Me Up at Night

    You ever hit submit on a discussion post and realize you have a soccer tournament, a race, and three exams all in the same week?

    Yeah. Same.

    There are weeks I wonder, What’s the point? Why am I doing this to myself?

    But then I remember: I’m not chasing a grade—I’m chasing freedom.

    My Signature Study Method? Crying + Community.

    Look, I’ve tried all the “top 10 study tips” on TikTok. I even bought the cute highlighters. But nothing works quite like:

    • Crying while rereading Chapter 6
    • A good accountability partner who reminds me I’m not a complete failure
    • And group study sessions with people who get it—because there’s something healing about studying with others who are also barely hanging on

    Studying in a group hits different when you’re all equally confused but still cheering each other on like, “Girl, you totally almost understood that last question.”

    Comparison Is a Liar (But I Still Fall for It)

    Some days, I catch myself looking at my younger classmates like:
    “If I had started when I was 18, I’d be sipping iced coffee in my dream career by now.”

    But then I remember: I’ve got a whole life outside of school. Kids. Hobbies. A marathon to train for. A bedtime routine that involves reading and falling asleep mid-paragraph.

    This isn’t just a school comeback—it’s a whole life glow-up.

    The Biggest Lie I Told Myself

    “I should be farther by now.”

    That sentence right there? It almost stole my peace.

    But I’m rewriting the story. I’m realizing that money, titles, and timelines don’t define success. Freedom does.

    And this degree? It’s a tool—not just to earn more, but to live more. To be present. To build something for my boys. To show them it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—flip phones and all.

    What’s Keeping Me Grounded

    Right now, I’m pouring into what I call my pillars (shoutout to The 5AM Club):

    • Mindset: Failing doesn’t mean I’m a failure.
    • Soulset: Protecting my peace, praying, and letting go of perfection.
    • Physical: Marathon training keeps me sane and strong.
    • Emotional: Being honest about the hard stuff (like this post).

    So no, I’m not a 4.0 student. Yet.
    But I am showing up. Learning. Growing.
    And redefining success—one slightly late assignment at a time.

    💬 Your Turn:
    What’s one goal you’ve been chasing that made you question your sanity—but also made you proud just for trying? Drop it below—I want to hype you up.

    ☕️ Loved this post? Fuel the next one (or my next long run) with a coffee!

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