Growing up

So I know it has been a while since I've posted but today was a pretty monumental day for me so I wanted to share it! Today I met with the dean of my program and applied for both my externship and graduation. I was ushered from one office to the next, meeting with one important person and then the next.....all the while the intensity of the content didn't hit me until I was sitting in the cafeteria awaiting the start of my night class. I was officially set to graduate. June 8th to be exact, I will be walking and getting my Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration! I have to say there is a small part of myself that is really proud to announce that! Most of my friends and people I grew up with have already graduated from college (long ago in fact) and to some, me getting my degree means virtually nothing but to me, it means the world. I have been in college for what seems like an eternity and finally I will be able to say that I, no one else, made it and will walk away with that little piece of expensive paper that says I am an official college graduate!

Of course I have to tie Brett into this because he and I had numerous conversations about college and getting our degrees, not surprising since we met in college! he was always so dedicated and wanted nothing more than to graduate because the way he saw it was that a degree was something you earned yourself, could be proud of and no one could take away from you.  When I made the decision to start going to Baker for Nursing, he was MORE than supportive. When I first started I was working full time and taking night classes (4 hour long night classes....gotta love BC) 4 nights a week. I don't even remember many of those days because I was so overwhelmed. Part of me felt bad because my education was taking away some time I could be spending with my husband but it was he who pushed me to keep going. When I was finally accepted into the nursing program, it was HE who made sure I got all my paperwork in, medical records updated, etc. When he passed away I sat there for two days trying to decide if I would actually start the nursing program or not.....after lots of thought and conversations with his mom I decided to do it. I realize that I am no longer in the nursing program and will not be graduating as an RN but things changed and my path took a different course. No my dream was not to become a healthcare administrator but my dream WAS to help people and make a difference in the world.....hopefully with this degree (and maybe a Master's degree) I will be able to do that.

When the day comes for me to celebrate my graduation it will be bittersweet to do it without Brett by my side but in my heart I know that I could never have done any of it without him...and still to this day, he's with me encouraging me to keep going.

I am finally starting to feel like a grown up, at almost 34 years old! I feel like with this degree, I will have officially matured into a productive member of the world who, hopefully can do something to make things better in the healthcare system....in honor of my love. It's never to old to get your education!! I am proud of myself for not giving up after the nursing program and I cannot wait to celebrate the day I graduate!!!