Graduation 2012

On Father's Day this year we celebrated three things: Father's Day, my dad's birthday, and my graduation from Portland State University.

I've had a long journey to get through school but having to work so hard for it has made it that much more of a success to me.

I didn't want to go to college when I was in high school. After I graduated, ten long years ago, I played around. I did camp every spring for 3 more years, spent 2 summers at summer camp, and took a few classes here and there at Portland Community College. In 2005 I got a full-time job at a daycare and moved out of my parents house. I worked and lived on my own and loved it until I realized that making 10-12$ an hour wasn't going to get me through life.

So I made the leap. I decided to tell my roommate and best friend that I was moving back into my parents, quitting my job, and going back to school.

It was 2007, and being that I wasn't 24 yet I didn't qualify for financial aid so I ended up finding a part-time job to pay for school myself. I was able to finish my associates degree without needing a loan, which I will very much appreciate when I need to start paying back the government.

I started back slow, my first term I only took 6 credits. Then I maintained full-time status by taking 12-18 credits each term. In 2009 I transferred down to the University of Oregon. I had just met Chad and he moved with me. We both didn't like living in Eugene, work was hard to find, the hotel I worked at was sketchy, and the people sucked. I also wasn't to keen on the school. So after one term I transferred back to PCC and we moved back home to Beaverton.

I finished my Associates of Science degree through the community college and then transferred to Portland State University. I loved it there. The average age of students is 25 so I didn't feel like the old lady in a sea of newly graduated 18 year olds. I loved 90% of the classes I took and it was easy to get to and from school using public transportation.

So after my looooong journey I finally finished. Because I was a little wishy-washy in the beginning, I was able to take advantage of my extra classes that didn't pertain to my degree. Officially I graduated with my Bachelor's of Science in Science, a minor in geology, biology, and psychology, and my endorsement in integrated science. The endorsement is needed for graduate school and puts me slightly ahead of the game.

Now I'm taking a year off to take care of little man (and Chad too) and I'm applying for the graduate program at the School of Education at PSU for the Summer 2013 program. After 1 year I'll have my Master's in Teaching and can start my career as a middle school science teacher.