Graduation Day!!!

 

When I was young I always had a strong sense that education/school was important. Yes I had parents that pushed me to get good grades, mostly because they knew I could and did do well. I know I put more pressure on myself than they ever could have. That's probably why they didn't worry about my grades as much as I did. Though I was terrified of cleaning mom's shower if I got anything below an A- in high school the parents didn't seem to yell too much when that B+ came my way in physics fourth quarter of my senior year. I'm sure my parents were just trying to get me OUT of high school and on to college. Mostly OUT of the house...they needed a break from all my stressing. So I was off to one of the most unlikely places I ever thought I would end up and that was Snow College. I loved Snow, not so much for the academic education I received but the life education that became my turning point in the direction of my life. I had some fun times at Snow, I met life long friends and had experiences I never would have had at another school. This is where I earned my first degree, my Associates degree, and I dragged my family to their second graduation for me.

Snow College led me to Southern Utah University, the one school I said I would NEVER attend. Yep, this is where I learned never to say NEVER. I also decided to become a teacher, a profession I said I would NEVER enter. But there must have been something pretty intense happening at the bowling alley in Cedar City that night as I sat at a table with my mom on one side, the nosy bishop peaking over our shoulders and the school catalog in hand. Mom and I thumbed through every page discussing every major of course it wasn't until the "S" section that I found my major, a Social Science Composite. TAH DAH!!! There it was a history teacher...I couldn't believe that this is what felt right and I knew it and I'm sure my mom was just relieved to finally get me out of her hair so she could actually bowl with the YW/YM's group she brought to Cedar that night. As soon as I decided I went straight to work getting my new schedule worked out and started down my new path. WOW! Before I knew it I was graduating and working in Vernal at my first teaching job at Uintah High School. Oh and my family attended my 3rd graduation, and honestly this one was BORING! (Sorry Olene Walker but it was).

I found myself a little lost for a while because for the first time in my life I didn't have anything I was working towards. I was just working and that really wasn't setting well for me. One night I was spiralling like I do when I'm under stress and I sat down and wrote in my journal, mostly setting goals for my future. In there I wrote that I wanted to get my Master's degree by the time I was 30 (I was off a few years) but I just didn't know what I wanted to get the degree in and so I needed time to figure that all out. It took 7 years and a job change to Parowan High School for me to finally decide to get my Master's degree. I really wanted a degree from the University of Utah but they didn't have any programs in southern Utah for school counseling. Bless my sister-in-law Jana's heart she hiked with me through the UofU campus, talking to several people before we found the right guy and I told him about my dilemma. Well whatever I said I certainly got the ball rolling for him because he thought it was a great idea to come to southern Utah but it was going to take time and of course no promises were made. But he did suggest the University of Phoenix. I was skeptical. But two weeks after that meeting I saw a flyer in the faculty room at PHS for the University of Phoenix's new school counseling program...really? They were starting the program at the St. George Campus. The Lord was taking care of me.

On October 31st, 2007 I started my first class in St. George. I met Stacee Stratton and Robin Birmingham, who are later going to be my partner's in crime throughout this entire program. All three of us were on a team together through every single class, yes we had others that joined us and I'm sure we drove them all crazy because we are SOOO type A in everything. But Stacee and Robin got me through some tough times and we shared some fun times and became crazy about our Starbucks time. We had professors we loved and professors we loathed but somehow we made it though. I want to say we made it through in one piece but I can't...I spent two and a half years in a very expensive therapy session while gaining an diploma. But I owe these two a special thanks...without them I couldn't not have maintained.

But the biggest thanks goes out to the family. First to mom and dad...they always support me in all my crazy ideas. They listened to me whine about the papers I had to write, they yelled at me to get my homework done (somethings never change), and they cheered me on at the 3rd college graduation (4 total now)  I dragged them to and for this I will forever be thankful. Next I must send a shout out to Nikki, Warrin and Cole. I spent a lot of nights in the pink room, borrowing their laptop to do homework and shedding MANY TEARS while my sister listened and encouraged me on. Brett and Jana, Jovie and Brock get a thanks for reminding me to keep on pushing to get that degree. I know I technically graduated  7 days before Brett but we really earned our degree's at the same time and because he pushed through it made me want to get done as well. I know there is never any sibling rivalry ever! Of course Brandon and Jeanette and all the boys have always been supportive. Payton, Tyce, Cort and I could swap homework horror stories of who had it worse. Cort did think it wasn't fair that I had to go to school in the summer time...I did get some sympathy on that one. There are so many others I don't have time to name but you know who  you are and I'm giving you all a big hug right now. Thanks to all for helping me reach my goals. In a few weeks I'll be ready to start making some more goals and I'm excited to see where they will take me.

Robin, me and Christina all attended our graduation ceremony. Stacee wasn't able to come because of family commitments but I sure did miss her. Things just weren't the same without her.