Moving on
When you are little you are taught to put one foot in front of the other and that’s how we learn to walk. Some of us start with a crawl but whichever way you arrive, there is always a starting point.
I remember before my daughter started using both of her legs to walk, she would do a crawl walk where one leg was in the walking position and the other was a bent knee (you would have had to see it).
I think life is a series of putting one foot in front of the other one until you accomplish whatever goal. The timetable isn’t necessarily written in stone and it’s different for all of us.
I’m feeling particularly nostalgic because I am finally moving on. A long term goal of mine has finally been achieved. Truthfully, I am still in a bit of disbelief.
Tomorrow March 28, 2021, I will receive college degree. Yes I am finally graduating from Cerritos College with an AA in Journalism.
The first time I enrolled at Cerritos was September of 1987 and for over 30 years now I have longed to finish what I started. I can’t really tell you why it has taken me so long.
Looking back the only concrete excuse I have is… life. I let the things of life get in the way. I was married at 21 but I still took some classes. I had another child at 22 but I still took some classes.
Got divorced, settled on a career, purchased my home, raised my children and throughout the years I still managed to take some classes but never focused long enough to finish.
In 2014, after a series of events caused me to reevaluate the direction my life was headed, I determined that it was time to finish school. At the time my thoughts were about finishing so I can change careers.
But in a moment of reflection I realized I’ve had this somewhat private dream since I was 13 years of age. Like so many, I buried my dream under the avalanche called life.
Fast forward. After 6 long years, two years of which were math classes that I saved until the end because I suck at math (I actually loathe math but like a dark horse, I managed to get an A even in statistics) I did it. I completed the course of study.
I know, it’s only an AA. I know it took way too long. I know I could have built a couple of houses in the time it took me to finish this but the bigger lesson is what’s important.
There were many obstacles that tried to get in the way and I didn’t allow it. Once determination and I started seeing each other I wouldn’t stop. There were a couple of times when I wanted to throw in the towel but then I remembered that just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean I can’t.
And then a global pandemic struck the nation and not even that stopped me. The pandemic actually assisted me in getting the degree I really wanted.
I was going to settle for a degree called Media Services because the one class required for the Journalism degree is college newspaper, but that class was only ever offered in person during the work day.
I work full time and there was no way I would have been able to take the amount of time it required from work to attend this class.
But with an event that devastated so many, I was able to take the class online. It helped keep my mind occupied during this time where fear was widespread and the unknown had us crippled.
The college newspaper class solidified the fact that this is indeed what I want for the rest of my life. I wrote for the paper for two semesters and also took multimedia reporting.
Best two semesters of my life. And it effectively made my appetite ravenous for more. What a way to end my community college experience.
Thankfully, I am moving on, I have met this goal and learned more about myself then I could have ever imagined. I am moving on, I was accepted into CSULB which was the college at the top of my list of colleges to attend next.
I plan to start in the fall and hopefully it won’t take another 30 years to get the bachelor’s degree. I am moving on but as I move on I want you to know what sometimes can seem impossible can be done.
A world of endless possibilities is opened to me and my mind is opened to a world of endless possibilities.
I am moving on and as I do I am celebrating the fact that I am now “hotter” by one degree and at my age, it’s such a wonderful feeling.
I am moving on, my emotions are mixed. I am ready to move on to experience the unknown but there is also some fear of the unknown. I know I can so I will. If you were wondering, you can too!
