The Graduate

One of the most exciting and unexpecting things that happened while I was in Idaho was that I recieved my diploma. It came in the mail one day and I whooped and hollared all over the house showing it to all my family members, very humbly pointing out the "suma cum laude" part and rejoicing in closing this chapter of my life. "But Janelle," I hear some of you thinking (yes, I have that skill- it came with my degree) "I thought you already graduated." Okay, okay so here's now the whole thing happened and why the date on my diploma is about 1 1/2 years later than it should be. So when I found out I was expecting Lynette I changed my major from Music Ed to BA in Music to shave off a couple years. This meant that though I didn't have to take all those education course I now did have some extra general credits to do. I finished up all of my in-class stuff about 2 years ago and had only one lousy math class left to take that I fingured would be best to do correspondence so I could stay how with Lynette. I figured this would take me, oh 3 months. Hahahaha. Yeah I finished the class more than a year after I started it. Then after that it took me months of calling counselors, advisors, deans, and whatnot to make sure I received not only the credit for this class but also two others that I had tested out of but for some reason they were not being credited to me on my transcript. I wasn't even sure if it had all gone through until the day that lovely little envelope arrived in the mail at my parents house (I sent it to that address since I was moving and didn't know my new address.) Anyway after years of tears and toil I am officially a college graduate and am SO HAPPY. My husband is proud, my parents are thrilled (they really doubted my ability so finish after Lynette was born...silly people) and I am ecstatic.
Of course I could not write such a lengthy rambling of my success without giving credit where credit is due. Thank you so much, my darling Michael for your love, support, and help. I can't tell you how many times this man put off studying for important medical school tests and whatnot so I could go to class or get homework done on my stupid math class. I need to also acknowledge my amazing, incredible, selfless angels on earth Chelsey, Holly, and Lacie- three dear friends in St. Louis who watched Lynette for countless hours every week. I owe them so much- oh sure it was supposed to be a babysitting swap and I watched their kids a bit and did a little piano teaching- but the truth of the matter is they did twice as much if not more for me than I did for them. I owe them so much. I'm even tearing up right now thinking about it. I love you girls- you will always have a soft spot in my heart. Thank you.