The Beginning of the End

Today begins the first day of classes. Tonight is my final class of my final semester as a student of WSU. In December, I graduate with my master's.

Today is bittersweet. I have enjoyed returning to school, meeting new people, making new friends, conversing with fellow writers, and learning. Not that this ends today. I will continue to meet people, make new friends, find encouragement and sympathy from those that feel this inner desire to write, and will continue to feed my brain. I don't consider myself highly intellectual or scholarly by any means, but I will always love learning something new every day.

I have been in school for seven years pursuing my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I have worked full-time throughout my college years. This has made my pursuit that much crazier, but that much more meaningful.

I did not do this alone. The day of my graduation I will have a long list of thank you's. Beginning with Dr. Rhatigan, who encouraged me to pursue the dream. Dr. Knudtson, my boss at the time, who believed in the dream. My parents for always allowing the dream. My husband for reminding me of the dream when I felt I couldn't go on....

I am almost there. I can see the finish line. I can see the crowd. I will take a deep breath and push into the final miles, ignore the cramping, deny the pain, and quench my thirst with the knowledge that I will soon complete the dream many years in the making.

And, I hope my journey will encourage others to never stop believing in fulfilling a goal, a dream, a passion. As Greg Anderson once said,

"When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expression, then we truly live life." 

Comments

[Chandra]

This almost made me tear up. Stop that.

When I'm sitting in that arena with my cap and gown, It will make me genuinely happy to know that you are somewhere in that arena with yours.

Bring it!