Done with school  − 7 December, 1996

I FINALLY graduated from college on this day. I had started in August 1991. I had plans to be in and out in four years. That didn't work out so well. I was going along really well my first semester of college. I had a few personal issues, but I managed. I met a guy my next semester though and we goofed around all the time and I didn't go to class nearly as often as I should. I always made it to my 7:30am class, Statistics, (where I received an A), but I bombed the rest of my courses. It was bad.

After that, I settled down and explained to this boyfriend, who ended up being my fiance in June 92, that I couldn't afford to waste time and money...so I got serious about school again. The next year I was OK. I was still taking basic courses, which were plenty of. Because of work and Brittany, I really could only pay for babysitting Tuesdays and Thursdays, which worked fine for awhile. Once I started getting into higher level courses, there just wasn't that flexibility and add to that, summers were not an option at that point. So, I was taking just 12 hours my third year...just enough to stay full time. To get back on track, I really needed 18 hours, but it just wasn't an option then.

Fortunately, after three years done, my grandmother started watching Brittany. I was able to take more hours and on days the courses I needed were offered. At this point, I also decided to double major. I had started out as a Psychology major with a minor in English, and at some point, decided to swap them. By that time, though, I already had more than I needed for a minor in Psych, so I figured I might as well stay in school long enough to take the three extra courses I needed.

I had also decided to go the education route so I could become an English teacher. At the time of the decision, I was engaged to Steve. He was going to be out of the Army in June 96, so I decided to just finish my degree and then worry about getting certified when we knew where we'd be moving.

Finally, on Dec. 7, 1996, I graduated. Randy flew in from Austin and Steve, my mom and the kids came to graduation. I was so excited and relieved to finally be done.

Too bad I haven't actually done anything with that degree. : )