Graduation Day

Main Street Fort Worth, Tx
May 19, 2023

Graduation Day.  Usually those are filled with absolute joy.  This one is bittersweet though.  It is finally the end of my chapter at Tarrant County College.  Leaving a school that is so familiar to me for so long is definitely hard.  The hardest part was not having my parents there to see me.  As you can see, I have a couple of stoles, a medal and cords.  The white stole is because I am a first generation student.  The yellow stole, medal and cords are from Phi Theta Kappa which is the Honor Society for Tarrant County College.  

Sundance Square
Fort Worth, Tx.

In place of my parents, my dad's closest friend came to my graduation.  He is such an amazing man.  He has been an amazing support and is always up for a baseball game, football game, and I'm sure if we can, hockey game.  Daddy & Geoff called ball together for many years.  Geoff has watched me grow up, make many mistakes, and finding my path.  I am thankful for Geoff and for him being a pillar and father figure in my life.  I know that mom and dad are both smiling down on him.

Sundance Square
Fort Worth, Texas

My wonderful husband.  He was the one that told me to go back to school.  He has been the force that drives me to keep going.  Especially on the hard days.  Especially when I don't want to do anything or go anywhere.  When I want to give up.  This journey to finish my education wouldn't be possible without this man right here.  He refuses to let me quit.  He pushes me to do the best I can when it gets too hard.  When the tears come because I just can't get my brain to grasp the concept, he is there to comfort me, kiss my forehead, then push me to keep going.  

School has been fun, and it's been incredibly hard.  While finishing my last class at TCC, I started my first semester at Texas Wesleyan University.  It was hard.  I was working full time.  I was taking 5 classes.  I was struggling.  There were not many friends to be made.  The quantity of work was far more than I'd ever had to do.  I wasn't sleeping, and I wasn't being very successful.  My grade for the first semester was ok.  Lower than I wanted it to be.  I wanted to quit.  I lost my confidence.  My husband and son both pushed me to keep going.  I didn't want to give it a second chance.  I wanted to just walk away.  On top of that, I lost my job.  I was just done and discouraged.  Chris talked me into taking the summer off completely, give myself a break and at least do one more semester and see how that works out.  So we shall see how it goes.