[9/12/11] Monday Memories: If not now, when?

"Finish Bachelors Degree" has been on my bucket list for many, many years. Many. Many. Years.

I wanted one of these. Except mine will have my name on it. Of course.

*Image courtesy of everythinggraduation.com

I've always planned on going back to school and finishing my degree, but wonderful children, moves, working at home for John, teaching Early Morning Seminary, and life in general always seemed to come first. And that's okay.

During my cancer scare in July 2009 I was thinking pretty deeply about life. I thought about things I wanted to do but hadn't done and one of those things was finishing my Bachelors Degree. I was still teaching seminary, had a busy family, and felt my plate was still too full to add "go back to school."

One morning a facebook post of one of Kam's friends, Jennie, changed my life. Jennie had simply posted what her Dove chocolate wrapper said. I looked back to find the post but was unsuccessful (I really wish I'd written it down). The gist of the post was to do what you've been dreaming of doing, and do it now. 

That struck me like a ton of bricks. I'd been waiting for life to slow down so I could go back to school, but instead of slowing down, life always seemed to go faster and faster. From time to time I'd look at BYUI's online degree program website and think, "I don't have time for this right now, but I'd sure like to do it someday."

During my cancer scare I was reminded that "somedays" can become very limited very quickly.

I prayed about it and also talked to John and his reaction, as always, was "Do it." He's always been amazingly supportive of everything I've wanted to do.

It was only about 2 weeks before the Fall semester was to begin so I hurried and got my application done and had my interviews with my Bishop and a member of my Stake Presidency.  

And I was accepted!

I was worried that I'd be going to school forever, but after talking with my counselor I was thrilled to learn that BYUI would accept all my Certified Personal Training classes as a cluster (mini-minor), and all my Accounting classes I'd taken for my Associates Degree as one of my minors. I only needed to take some generals, Anatomy & Physiology to finish up my cluster, and classes for my English minor.

I was so excited!

And very, very nervous.

I am not a technologically savvy person, and all my classes would be online. And I would have to use various forms of technology. Scary.

Fortunately, my sister was not only teaching online at BYUI but was also training the online teachers. She assured me that I could do all the techy stuff and that she would help me.

Whew.

I have taken her up on her offer many times, and the BYUI help desk guys have been awesome also.

I was also worried that my "haven't taken classes (besides my personal training classes) and haven't written papers for 23 years" brain wouldn't be able to keep up. 

Once again, my sister and John assured me I would be okay.

And they were right.

My sixth semester begins tomorrow and I'll graduate in April 2014. I'm only taking one class this semester since I'm working 30 hours a week at John's office, and although I'm sad to not be taking another class, I know that this is the way it's supposed to be during this short season of my life.

It's been neat to share my BYUI experience with Kam and Zach, and Kam and I have even taken some of the same classes. At the end of the semester Zach often asks me what my GPA is. (And I think he's been a little impressed with my answer.) :o)

The first time I talked with my counselor she asked me if I was going to walk in graduation.

"Heck, yes," I said. And my family will be there, too.

I wouldn't miss it for the world!

 *Image courtesy of rexburgstandardjournal.com