Wow...Here I am again. Almost two years later, and I have figured out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Well... sort of. As of today, I have completed my final graduate school course before graduation! Phew! So, to reflect on my last post from 2013, I decided to apply for one program to see if I would get in, and... I did! I went with "what may be my passion," and pursued my M.S.Ed. in Educational Foundations & Leadership, informally known as, Higher Education. I have learned so much about the woman that I am that I never knew before. I am courageous, resilient, and my might is unyielding, but most of all I am here! Initially, adjusting to the realm of higher education as a student who hadn't opened a textbook in a short few years was terribly difficult; I was a different person than I had been four years prior. I was more intrinsically motivated this time around, but my priorities needed attention. I had journeyed from the home I know and love to tackle this huge beast with no armor and no weapon, just a hope and a dream to be a better me. I resigned from my job, moved into my apartment, started my new job and my first week of graduate school all in one week plus a few days. I sure did. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I had faith, determination, and zeal. I worked full time, studied full time, and "lived" full time with a man that was my boyfriend of four years at the time. I didn't know how interesting the journey would be, but let's just say that today I am a better woman, a stronger woman because of it. Oh...and that man is now my fiancé! Yup! I'm marrying him this October. What a way to end the year, huh? He has been my biggest supporter and encouraged me to look at my healing scars when I thought I couldn't go on. Packing lunches, rubbing feet, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, kissing and wiping my tears, reassuring me that it would all be worth it; he has done it ALL. We struggled together, worried together, and turned that worry into prayer and faith together, we transformed together. Can't you tell I could write about him all day. All I can say is...Wow! What we've become is amazing. I am because I did and he was!
Let no one every tell you that I #firstgen college student can't learn and grow. Let us detach the negative stigmas associated with who we are; we should be proud of our attempts and even more so our successes. And I leave you with this from Jodi Picoult...
"The human capacity for burden is like bamboo - far more flexible than you'd ever believe at first glance."
