AuburnChick's Adventures

“What in the world is that?” you ask.

Well, readers, it is a picture of AuburnChick doing what she likes to call “The Happy Dance.”

She’s been dancing since about 9:30 on Friday morning.

“What would lead her to participate in this expression of pure happiness?” you ask.

The reason for her joy is that she just completed her very last final exam.

I can picture you scratching your head in confusion.

“What exactly does this mean?” you ask.

Well, after 23 classes in 21 months, AuburnChick is, unofficially, a college graduate!

I just saw the light bulb turn on. You get it! You’ve probably already experienced this joy. You were probably smart and finished college right after high school. Think back to when you finished your last exam. What a wonderful, free feeling you had. Didn’t you walk out of there practically floating on air? I’ll venture to bet that some of you may have even done The Happy Dance across the stage at your commencement ceremony.

AuburnChick’s plans were a little different. Oh sure, she entered college right after high school. Shortly afterward, she got married and had to get a real job. No more relying on Mom and Dad to pay the bills. She tried night school, and that worked for a couple of semesters, until she and Mr. AuburnChick decided to add to their family. So, college became a dream…or more like a goal that she would work toward when her children got older.

Thank goodness technology got better during those years. The ability to take classes online was just too tempting for her, and she took the plunge. Taking the first step was the most difficult, but once committed, she followed through — all the way through yesterday morning, when she took her last exam. It was one she had dreaded too. It promised to be one of the most difficult (i.e. the professor thinks all of his students are trying to get their Ph.D.’s). She crammed like crazy the night before because she had spent most of the week studying for her other exam. But the final was not as bad as she thought, and she quickly answered the questions.

While waiting for her adviser to finish up some last minute details, AuburnChick encountered a young man in the office.

“Are you here to take a final?” she asked him.

“Oh no, I’m here to register,” he said.

“Oh really. Do you take ECampus classes?” AuburnChick asks. She would love to meet some of her fellow classmates…people she’s never seen but whose voices, through their writing, she’s become quite familiar with over the last two years.

“No,” he responds, “I’m just starting out.”

The reality of the journey she has just completed settles upon her.

“Wow,” she thinks to herself. “Look how far I’ve come.”

And then she Happy Danced her way out of the office. I think she even Happy Danced in her sleep last night.

P.S. AuburnChick wants to thank the following for their support through this journey…First of all, God. She knows that without God, she would be nothing. He gave her the words she needed for every assignment. He lifted her up and encouraged her when she was overwhelmed. “One hour at time,” He told her. “My grace is sufficient,” He repeated to her over and over again. AuburnChick must give a shout-out to her family. They had to pick up the slack while she spent hours and hours and hours huddled in front of the computer. Many boring weekends were spent at home so that AuburnChick would not get behind on assignments. And the food situation…let’s just say it was pretty bad. Mr. AuburnChick tried his best to help fill in the gap, but sometimes there’s just nothing like Mama taking the reins. AuburnChick’s sister deserves much credit. Weekly phone calls were uplifting, and the many prayers offered up by her certainly did not go unheard or unanswered. AuburnChick’s friends deserve a virtual hug as well. They provided real hugs (and a pie!) that were instrumental in letting AuburnChick know that she was not walking this path alone. And to her KH buddies…thank you. KH provided her with much needed breaks (without having to leave the computer). Despite being online buddies, y’all listened and encouraged every time she was frustrated. I hope I covered everyone!

P.P.S. Look at what Mr. AuburnChick sent to the new college graduate…

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: dance, happy, school | 3 Comments »