The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today I received my diploma. It is so pretty in a leatherbound frame. It's my Associates in Science for Business Administration. I can't believe I did it. It actually has MY name on it!
My mind was wandering at work today and I was thinking how I wish my Mom were here for me to share this special moment with and then of course I thought what the heck, I could go visit my mom (at the cemetery) and show it to her. What makes it so special is that I wasn't suppose to go to college. Girls get married you know? Why waste the money on college only for them to get married and have children? was a prevalent theme not only in my family but in my generation.
Growing up, I was called every synonym for stupid. You name it. It hurt the most when my Dad would say things like that. Eventually I wore that title like a shield of armour. And then of course I thought to myself, Maria, what would you tell any one of your friends, your loved ones, if they told you this. I often say "the gravest error we ever make is limiting our thinking by what others tell us and by believing what they tell/say about us."
And then to top it off, I got a call at lunchtime. I learned I was accepted at Suffolk University where I will continue my education in order to get my Bachelors Degree in Public Administration. I hadn't heard from this college which is the only one I applied to because it's very prestigious and the only school in New England with Public Administration major. I had long since "let go and let God" regarding this decision. I know as sure as the sun is going to rise that God often does for me what I cannot do for myself.
So it's been quite a day and I just wanted to share with all of you, Maria
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If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?
great post!! I just got my leather bound degree in the mail recently, too. I showed it to my sister who is the only one who cares. Congrats!!! Nice work!! Hugs, J.
Congratulations Maria! You must be walking on clouds right now.
I recall the pain of bypassing college education, too, when I was younger. I was never told directly that college is a waste on girls, but it was implied. Even though I felt the desire to continue schooling past high school, I succombed to the messages that I picked up from the significant others around me at the time. I married at 19 and had my first child at 21. Motherhood was wonderful. However, the desire for a higher education never ceased. I vowed to return to college later, which I did.
I remember feeling so unsure of my abilities as I entered college in my early 40s Everyone seemed smarter, and of course, they were much younger. But something inside kept pushing me forward. I went to a nearby junior college and then transferred to a university. I was terrified when I transferred, for I thought I was really out of my league. I recall my very first class I went to the first day. It was a music class for elementary teachers. The instructor went over the syllabus. We learned that we would have to teach the class a song! Yep, we each had to get up in front of the class and actually sing. It took all I had to not bolt from my seat and never return to college. I did teach a song to the class, and yes, I sucked so badly. But I did it and passed the course with an "A." Thank goodness the instructor did not lower my grade for my lack of singing abilities. I'll never forget that day.
I now know that if I can withstand the humiliation of singing in front of 40 or more strangers, I can do anything!
I graduated with a B.A. and a teacher's credential at the age of 45. I have known others who were older than that. So phooey on this age thing. It's never too late to return to school.
I hope you have wonderful experiences ahead at your university. Again, congratulations on your accomplisment! May you be an inspiration to others.
(((My Maria))) I'm so proud of you. I love your post. What a wonderful day, thank you for sharing your experience filled with courage to take a chance, strength to follow your heart, and hope to others everywhere no matter what your dream! CONGRATULATIONS!!
I can so relate to the 'girls don't need education, they just get married, have children, and look after the home and the hubby' thinking style...and I am of that generation too.
So, I am delighted to hear of your success. I too went to University late in life and gained my Honours Degree in Information Technology with Human Factors at a very prestigious University here in England and I felt a real mixture of emotions. Not one of my family were interested. And only my son attended my graduation (he was 13 at the time), my daughter would not come, indeed she was going through the first phase of cutting me out of her life. That was 17 years ago now. Wow, how time flies.
Now I realise that the achievement was magnificent and I alone know what it took to do that degree. I studied 6 years in all as I had to repeat a year as my divorce went through just as I was about to take my exams and I had to drop out of that year and retake the WHOLE of that year again, which made it doubly hard as I lost my group too.
Well done, I am so proud of you and would be the first to be hugging you in delight...so I will do it here instead. ((((((((((((Maria - you are the tops!)))))))))))
Suzannah
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Out of the ruin of my past I have found the fortress of myself and I know how to defend it.
Strive for WISDOM; Seek SERENITY; NEVER compromise your INTEGRITY.
