6.03.2011

thank you friday... better late than never (day 17)

When I walked through the doors of Madison Area Technical College almost 11 years ago, I was a wide-eyed, naive, hopeful, preoccupied, scared, uncertain, and curious 18 year old. Madison, Wisconsin is by no means a 'big city' but compared to the rural little town where I grew up, whose population sign read 4,333, it was a a big city with endless possibilities. 


Needless to say, I obviously didn't stay enrolled very long. I stopped going to classes by  my 2nd month of fall semester 2000. I just wasn't ready and didn't know where I was going.


Fast forward >> 10 years, 8 months later...


I got home from work yesterday afternoon and checked the mail. I then stopped by to check on my blackberries... there was one that was ripe and it was delicious! I didn't even hesitate, I just popped it in my mouth and savored the sweetness. 


I unlocked my front door, greeted my puppies and then let them outside. I sat down and flipped through the envelopes in my hand... junk mail for jeremy, junk mail for me, insurance bill for jeremy, letter from OCCC (my college). I figured it was just a bill or something about summer semester starting next Monday and I opened it.


Inside,I found a letter from the president of the college congratulating me on my 4.0 this semester and informing me that I made the president's honor roll. Despite how cheesy this sounds, I had the biggest grin on my face and I even jumped up and down a little, which I tend to do when I'm excited.


So for this weeks thank you post, I would like to thank myself for realizing I was ready to go back to school and put in hours of reading, studying, class time, and writing essays in order to accomplish not only finishing my first full semester of college, but doing so with a perfect gpa.

Better 'late' than never, right? Everyone says that if you don't go to college right after high school that you never will... but I disagree. I think it's more important to go when you're ready and when you know what you want to do. Otherwise it's a waste of people's time and money. So I may not fit into the 'normal' expectations, but you know, I really dislike people telling me what to do, when & how to do it. I'd rather march to the beat of my own drum... and I do :)


Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently 

Oklahoma City Community College

8 comments:

  1. Congrats on making the honor roll, Sara! That's AWESOME, you must be psyched! And LOL, I tend to jump up and down when I get excited, too. ;) Like when Wendy Lamb Books requested my full manuscript. I may have screamed and jumped up and down a bit, hehehe! ;)

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  2. Yay! That's amazing!!! Funny enough, I went to UW (also in Madison), fresh out of high school. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and became one of my favorite cities. HOWEVER - I've always said that I disagree with the way our culture firmly "encourages" 18 year old people to figure out what they're going to do for the rest of their lives. The experience of going to college is what I took with me, not necessarily the degree (I have a theatre degree, which I've obviously made quite the career out of ;) ). I give you kudos for waiting until you were really ready. And by the looks of your 4.0 (!!!), you made the right choice! :)

    xo,
    melissa

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  3. How wonderful, you definitely deserved a pat on the back for all of your efforts! What a lovely thing to be recognized for that! :) I agree, I think you benefit most from schooling when it's what YOU want to do, not the wishes of those around you. I've found through schooling the girls that I love, LOVE to learn simply for the sake of learning. I love marching to the beat of a drum only I seem to be able to hear... ;) Way to go Sara!!!! :) :)

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  4. Taylor Lynn.... Thank you! I think screaming and jumping up and down are great ways to release excitement :) That's a huge accomplishment and it makes me want to jump up and down for you!

    Melissa... That's crazy that you went to UW-Madison! I absolutely love Madison... it's Jazz Fest at the Union this weekend and I'm so upset that I'm missing it! and I can't agree with you more... although I'm sure the experience you had in Madison was amazing and I absolutely LOVE what you're doing now :)

    Melinda... Thanks! I couldn't imagine NOT wanting to learn and I love that you homeschool the girls :) I think you should definitely keep listening and marching to that drum because it's obviously working... not to mention inspiring!:)

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  5. Congratulations and continued success!

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  6. CONGRATULATION SARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what an amazing accomplishment, i feel sort of how you felt 11 years ago! jeje so nervous about what lies ahead, but i hope i will be as happy as you 11 years from now <3

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  7. Definitely, Sara. Screaming and jumping up and down is a fantastic way to release energy. Plus, it's fun! LOL

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  8. WooHooooo!!!!! Awesome! That's quite an accomplishment girly! My daughter is 21, and she's smart, but college is a real drag to her right now and sometimes I worry that she'll drop out and not go back. After hearing about you, though, I realize that it's never too late to go back to school. As a matter of fact, reading your post makes me want to take a class! (I was in school for 6 1/2 years. lol, yeah, I like school!)

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