the second is to finish the prerequisites for the nursing program.
the third is to get accepted to a nursing program, or continue with a bachelor degree in public health.
i started four semesters ago, in a math class. my teacher was old and stooped and sweat profusely in the under-the-boob area (and the back and the armpit area) and managed to personally offend literally every student in the entire class over the course of one semester. at one point he was arguing with another student whose bicep was as big as my thigh and i interrupted them by announcing we were going to have a break and when we got back from the break we were only going to learn about math. then, instead of everyone taking a break the teacher went over and started arguing with this guy again and i literally stood in between them and took the other student out for a walk. that teacher was tenured.
and now, after four semesters, and several trips to counselors, most of whom steered me wrong, i am looking at graduation. it's hardly a blip on the timeline, honestly, although it is an accomplishment. people asked if i was going to attend the graduation. i didn't think so. it wasn't "that big" of an accomplishment. i wasn't too keen on the attention. then cover-19 happened and graduation was canceled. the school sent an email. "come get your hassle," they urged. "and a yard sign." i thought I was too embarrassed for a yard sign. but then seth (finishing 5th grade and heading towards middle school) got his yard sign and ava's school announced their intentions for her yard sign (she's finishing middle school and headed to high school in the fall) and the kids urged me to get mine so we could all have signs on the front lawn. so nathan and i got in the van and drove over to the college.
"congratulations!" cheered the woman handing me my sign. "this is a huge accomplishment! you did it!"
"this is awesome," said the man who handed me my hassle. "congratulations, you worked hard."
by the time i rolled out of that parking lot, full of its cheering counselors wearing their masks and gloves, i was teary-eyed. this was a big deal. this was long nights, early mornings. this was something i started when i was 18. this was something i'd always wanted and felt a little disappointed that i never got. this was a dream 18 years in the making. i had done it.
so this is what i learned in parking lot D at moorpark college: celebrate all the victories, even the ones that are small. don't feel like you need to save the celebrations for when everything is over. celebrate what you've got now.
what i've got now: three separate associates degrees, two finished prerequisites, and family and friends that are so supportive that i know i'm going to make it.
and now, after four semesters, and several trips to counselors, most of whom steered me wrong, i am looking at graduation. it's hardly a blip on the timeline, honestly, although it is an accomplishment. people asked if i was going to attend the graduation. i didn't think so. it wasn't "that big" of an accomplishment. i wasn't too keen on the attention. then cover-19 happened and graduation was canceled. the school sent an email. "come get your hassle," they urged. "and a yard sign." i thought I was too embarrassed for a yard sign. but then seth (finishing 5th grade and heading towards middle school) got his yard sign and ava's school announced their intentions for her yard sign (she's finishing middle school and headed to high school in the fall) and the kids urged me to get mine so we could all have signs on the front lawn. so nathan and i got in the van and drove over to the college.
"congratulations!" cheered the woman handing me my sign. "this is a huge accomplishment! you did it!"
"this is awesome," said the man who handed me my hassle. "congratulations, you worked hard."
by the time i rolled out of that parking lot, full of its cheering counselors wearing their masks and gloves, i was teary-eyed. this was a big deal. this was long nights, early mornings. this was something i started when i was 18. this was something i'd always wanted and felt a little disappointed that i never got. this was a dream 18 years in the making. i had done it.
so this is what i learned in parking lot D at moorpark college: celebrate all the victories, even the ones that are small. don't feel like you need to save the celebrations for when everything is over. celebrate what you've got now.
what i've got now: three separate associates degrees, two finished prerequisites, and family and friends that are so supportive that i know i'm going to make it.
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