Commencement Speaker!

No that's not me pictured in the video but guess what, I am in the video! I was honored to speak at my commencement ceremony. It took place in September 2014. Yes I know, I'm a little late blogging about it. I had all the good intentions in the world to keep up my blog but as usual life got in the way. Anyways I am here now chatting about it. I guess it is better late than never. It was an amazing experience to finally take the walk and speaking was the icing on the cake. It you want to watch my speech it takes place from 47:26 to 52:45. I hope if you watch my speech you are encouraged and motivated. My degree did change my life and I am grateful!

 There I am speaking! 

Yes that is my husband with me! 

My Mentor

I wanted to take the time today to talk a little bit about my student mentor. Her name is Melissa W. and she is absolutely amazing. I don't think she exactly realizes the impact she has had on me over the last several years. Mere words can't begin to explain all that she has done, but I'm going to try and use them to convey at least a little bit of what she has meant to me throughout the years.

I have faced many challenges during my time at WGU Indiana. Just some of them entailed extremely painful health issues, surgeries, caring for a loved one, dealing with deaths and some more personal issues, but through it all I always knew that there was one thing that was constant, my mentor. I knew that no matter what was going on in my life, there would be a phone call during the week from someone who was going ask me how I was doing, did I need anything, offer me words of encouragement and listen to what I had to say. That was monumental for me. You see, I didn't always have a lot of people who encouraged me during the rough spots on my journey. I'm not even sure people realized just how many struggles I was facing at times, but Melissa did. She knew it all and supported me every step of the way. She listened to me laugh, cry and totally go off the wall sometimes. :) I am sure there were moments where she questioned my sanity, but as kindhearted as she is, she stuck by me. I always said, that I offer my apologies if she needs therapy after dealing with me for all these years :). But in all seriousness, she kept me grounded. She never showed a sign of doubting me and that in itself was empowering. It felt good to know that someone believed in me and knew I could do it, even when I wasn't sure myself.

I still find it amazing that she could make me feel as if I was the only student she mentored. That says a lot about her and the specialized attention she gives to each and every student she mentors. She listens, she cares, she offers advice and encouragement. What more could anyone want from a mentor. She even sends little sayings and words of encouragement through email during the week and yes I did read everyone of them! I even shared a few on facebook :), which I might add always got a lot of likes :).

In conclusion, I just wanted to share publicly all that she has done for me and to personally thank her for all she has done. I want her to know that a part of my success is owed to her and her kindness. Thank you Melissa W., in words that my kids would use, "you rock".

Smile

Yup, that is me, smile and all. Why you ask am I smiling? Well, let me just tell you. Since my last post two very monumental things have happened! First off, I started and completed my demonstration teaching. Boy was that an experience all in itself. I swear I could probably write a book about it all, but I will keep it short and say, I learned a lot. There is nothing like real time, hands on experiences to open your eyes to all that teaching involves. I always admired teachers, but let me tell you I have a whole new found respect for them. I also learned how students somehow become like part of your family. They make you laugh, cry and most of all show you love, which amazed me the most. There were many days I came home with pockets full of pictures and little notes "my students" had created for me. I think that was the most encouraging thing. It literally warmed my heart and caused it to break when I had to leave. I will never forget my first class of students!

Secondly, December 11, 2013, a day I will never forget, I finished all of my courses! You would not believe how happy I was when I seen that final class clear and nothing was left in my course of study to complete. I quite literally laughed out loud, cried hysterically, danced the happy dance and then dang near passed out. Yes, I'm sure it would have been quite the sight to see. I'm just glad no one was around to witness it. I might just have been committed to an institution on grounds of insanity.

So folks, the end of my WGU Indiana Journey is coming to an end, but the next journey in my life is just beginning. I wonder where this next journey will take me. I have faith that it will be filled with wonderful things. Fear not though, I still have more blog posts yet to come. I will soon be beginning the process of applying for graduation and my license. You can bet that the day I receive my diploma it will be plastered all over my blog! The day I get to take the walk, likewise will be all over this place like the front page of a newspaper!

In closing, I will be back and keep things updated. Hey I have no school work to complete, so I just might have a little more time on my hands to write a bit more ;). Until the next time, remember, dreams can become reality with a little bit of hard work and faith.

Where does the time go?

Where does the time go? When I started this blog I had every intention of keeping it continually updated and share all my experiences during my journey through school. Unfortunately life, school and everything else hindered my great blogging intentions. I have hit a few of the highlights and thoughts I've had during the last couple of years. Yes, amazingly it has been a couple of years since I started WGU Indiana. But I don't think I can ever put into words what going WGU Indiana has meant to me and taught me. I have struggled, worked harder than I ever thought possible and accomplished things I never believed I could ever accomplish. I have learned so many things and the things that I learned that I most treasure, are the things that I learned about myself. 

I have learned that I am stronger than I ever thought. I have learned to turn struggle into a challenge. I have learned to never give up and to keep striving and pursuing your dreams. I have learned that I can change my life and my circumstances. It might seem that I am being a bit dramatic about what earning a degree can do for a person, but for me it is dramatic. It literally has been a life changing experience. The best part is that this is just the beginning. I will earn my degree and I will use that degree to change my life, and even more, hopefully I will change the lives of others. 

My best advice for those who think they are too old to go to school, or think that they could never do it, is to think twice. I believe we are all stronger than we think. We are all capable of doing things we never thought possible. The catch is you have to take the first step. You have to accept the challenge knowing that if you put forth your best efforts you will never fail. It all goes back to the old adage, "If there is a will, there is a way." Trust me on this one, if I can do it, so can you! 

My Biggest Littlest Motivator

Imagine my surprise Easter morning when my little girl didn't run to her basket, but instead ducked behind a chair and pulled out a surprise for me! She couldn't wait to give me the special basket she had made. It was her princess purse with a handmade note taped to it that read, " Good Job, Go Farther in WGU".  She filled the purse with pens, pencils and highlighters she had gathered. She told me that she was proud of me and wanted to give me something I could use for school.  I was surprised, proud, honored and brought to tears.

My sweet little 6 year old is my biggest littlest motivator!

The Count Down Continues

Just a quick update on my count down status. At this point I have 33 task left to complete. Sixteen of those are in the classroom and seventeen are out of the classroom. I have taken one of my test, now I just have my last Praxis (Content Knowledge) and another for school. I'm getting there slowly but surely. My first audit is April 1st. I have to have no more than 30 left to complete.

A Scholarship For Me!

WGU Awards First Scholarship in Daniels' Name

      Yes that is a picture of me, Chancellor Barber and Governor Daniels! Much to my surprise I was awarded The Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. Go Further Scholarship on January 11, 2013. A day that I will never forget! I am honored, grateful, amazed and thrilled! It is all so exciting and overwhelming! 

     This scholarship means a great deal to me and will assist me in so many ways. I am fast approaching my demonstrative teaching this fall and I do have some financial concerns. Since I have two younger children I will need to enroll them in after school care and that combined with the fact I still need to find reliable transportation, is of great financial concern. By receiving this scholarship that will fund my school expenses, it will free up some much needed funds for a transportation and childcare. It has quite literally relieved some anxieties and allowed to be more able to concentrate on my studies. 

     Receiving the scholarship has also effected me in another way, an emotional way. I am encouraged and humbled. I cannot begin to describe how it feels to have someone believe in you, to notice you, to care about you. Someone noticed my struggles and acknowledge my fight to continue and persevere. That means more to me than words can begin to describe. My biggest challenge now is not to let anyone  down and to succeed. I want to walk across that stage and receive my diploma. I want to go on to do great things and hopefully change young lives for the better. I want to show and set an example for all those adults out there who think they can't, because they can! If I can do it, so can they, so can you! Life isn't always easy but no one ever said it would be. It is up to us to change our destiny, to commit to changing that destiny and following through. 

Thank You WGU Indiana for helping me Go Further!

     

     

The Clouds

I felt this picture of the clouds helps to represent where I have been and what has been going on since my last posting. For me the clouds represent a great many things, reaching for the stars, Heaven, the Divine, and peace. All of these things I have experienced over the last several months.

To answer the big question, YES I am still attending WGU Indiana in my pursuit of becoming a teacher. I haven't given up. I am still reaching for the stars, even though I have had a few bumps in the road on my journey. From my previous post it is noted that I have been dealing with some health issues. Everything finally came tumbling down and I did end up in the hospital where emergency surgery was performed. I believe it was only by Divine intervention that a kind surgeon listened to me, believed me and fought hard with other doctors to recognize there was a problem that needed to be addressed. He quite literally saved my life.

I ended up having three major surgeries in one. I had a very large ventral hernia repaired, my entire left colon removed and major adhesions removed from my umbilical area. I still am having a couple of issues, but I'm doing much better than I was previously. I have a few more test scheduled in the near future and I'm praying everything will come out fine. I desperately want to move on and pray they can eliminate the pain that I still experience from time to time.

Shortly before my surgery, I had another life changing experience. My beautiful, loving, kind mother passed away. It was a day I will never forget. It was Mother's Day and I was at church. Service had just ended and my cell phone rang. It was my sister. She wanted me to know that she had checked on our mom, and found that she was no longer with us. She had passed away peacefully in her sleep. The kids and I were just getting ready to get in the car to pick up a Mother's Day cake and balloons for her. The hardest part was explaining to my little ones that we no longer needed to go to the store, that we needed to go home because Nana had went to Heaven.  I dearly love my mother, but I know that she is at peace now and in the arms of God. She will forever be in my heart, my memories and part of me forever.

As you can see my journey has been long and at times difficult. I have not given up and I believe that life gives us things to make us stronger, to teach us lessons and to mold us into who we are meant to be. How we handle our situations is what defines us. It shows the world who we really are on the inside.

I choose to look at my difficulties as a blessing of sorts. I was honored to take care of my mother the last several years and in her last few months I was given an opportunity to say all the things I wanted to say and to listen and hang on every word she said to me. God blessed us by allowing her to survive a severe heart attack near the end of her life. He saved that time for us to say our goodbyes and to share all that we could with her. I am grateful for that.

My illnesses have taught me so much too. I have learned to appreciate and not take good health and life for granted. I have also learned to accept help from others and most importantly to rely on God for all my needs.

One Year Reflection

Wow, it has been just over a year ago that I started my journey at WGU Indiana. Looking back I know I made the right choice, and I am thrilled to be continuing my journey to teaching.

I have learned a great number of things while attending WGU, but I believe the greatest thing of all is what I learned about myself. I have discovered my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, hopes and dreams. WGU has been the proverbial light bulb moment for me. It has been the light of my ah ha moment. So many things have become clear in the light of education. I now know I want more, but most importantly I have learned that more is possible. I have come to realize that dreams are what you make of them. They can be thoughts of things you wish for, or things you reach for and attain.

My dreams encompass a great number of things. Above all is the dream of a better future. So that is what I am doing, I am creating a better future for myself and my family. WGU Indiana has given me the opportunity to no longer wish for it, but to achieve it. I have worked hard, and every step I have taken has been done with determination and with a goal insight. Someday I will reach that goal and take that walk for a diploma I have yearned for, for so long. I think the most amazing thing is once I have reach that goal, I will be able to help build a foundation for children to grow their educational goals. I believe if I can help build a strong enough foundation for my future students, someday they will take that same walk I will to receive their college diploma, and in turn they will be creating a better future for themselves and quite possibly the world we live in as a whole.

My Children

I figured it was about time to introduce my children. My husband and I have been married 22 years and are the proud parents of 4 beautiful, amazing children. My children are my motivation and the driving force that keeps me going.

My youngest is a rambunctiousness, energetic son who will soon be 4 years old. His whole world revolves around Thomas the Train and Lighting McQueen. 

My eldest daughter is 18 and is an aspiring actress who some day hopes to work on stage. Currently she is attending college in New York. 

Next in age is my 13 year old who loves cheer-leading and dreams of becoming a supreme court justice someday, that or a congresswoman or senator. She loves politics as you can see by her choices :). 

Last but not least is my 5 year old daughter. She dreams of becoming a princess who lives in fairy castle. Her interest include tinker bell, flying ponies and rainbows.

Where there is a will, there is a way!

Getting through school is not an easy task, and when you add 4 kids, housework, dinner, laundry and everything else it can become a bit tougher. I do believe however in the old adage, "Where there is a will, there is a way". It never has rang so true as the day I started WGU. Achieving your goals I believe aren't always suppose to be easy. It takes work, drive, and a will to want it bad enough. These aren't bad things, in fact they are the motivating source that creates achievers. Sure sometimes no matter how hard we try we still end up landing face down in the dirt once in awhile. But I guarantee you that it is the hard working achiever that stands up, dust themselves off and tackles that mountain once more. Eventually they will reach the top, and their goals will be realized. Everything you go through to reach that zenith are like stepping stones. Stepping stones teach us lessons, humble us and make us real as human beings. The next time you hit that bump in the road or crash to the ground, get up, dust yourself off and climb that mountain again. In the end when you reach the top, you can look down and see the journey you have taken. Be proud and know all those steps are now behind you, and you took each one of them with the will to achieve, and you did it!

The second time around

My father once told me, "I passed Algebra with straight A's, the second time around." That sentence definitely spoke to me today!

I have been battling my Mathematics course for awhile now. Working through the homework and test sections I have felt a bit out of sync. Now I took a math course last year and breezed right through it, this time though it has felt like running up a hill on a treadmill. Well today that all changed. While I worked through the course for a second time to review, the proverbial light bulb kicked on. Geometry, algebra, functions and more all lit up like a neon sign in Vegas. There was no mistaking the formulas for me today. It all fell into place, and I understood it all. I am so happy, and hoping that tomorrow the light continues to shine bright. I just might make the final test after all this month! Thanks Dad for reminding me that sometimes it takes a second look for things to make sense, and to get it right.

Priority

If I have learned anything about going back to school, it is the meaning of the word priority. Who ever said you can have it all, lied. The truth is you have to give up somethings, add things you don't want to, and figure out what is really important to you.

Housework was a huge priority for me. I ALWAYS keep my house neat, clean and kept. Well guess what, when you have 2 toddlers, 2 older kids, and throw homework into the mess, things change. It came down to, do homework and study, or clean the house spotless. Reluctantly I had to let the house go a little. Things get messy now and stays that way until I can get to it. . So now hit and miss the house is clean. I started thinking about it. What will a clean house give me verses an education. Clean won't pay the bills, and there is no degree for excellent house maid.

Another area had to be prioritized too. Me, what do I want out of my free time. Well to be honest I am a facebook addict. Yes it is true, I want the biggest best farm on farmville, lol . Guess what, that was the next thing that had to be almost cut out of my free time. I found that I don't need fictitious crops to keep me sane. I need me time. Now I take more quiet time for myself. I do things that help me relax and don't require much effort. Since I am always busy with something, and have all kinds of tasks to complete, farming crops were more of a chore. Goodness knows I don't need anymore chores. It is much better to take a long hot bubble bath, or go out to dinner with friends. Those things refresh me and allow me to have more energy to tackle the tough stuff.

Priority, the biggest best word that should be part of everyone's vocabulary, especially if you have mounds of things to accomplish.