It. Is. Finished.

So I'm driving home from APU tonight, cruising along Huntington, singing at the top of my lungs (I do that when I'm alone) and as the song (from the Martin Guerre soundtrack) reaches it's crescendo it hits me: I have my Bachelors Degree. I start to cry.

I know, I know. This may sound very strange considering that is what I've been working my butt off these past two years to complete. But in some weird way, it was as if I had only just realized that all the hard work was for that. A degree. I suddenly felt as if I was part of a club. For so long it's been something I've worked toward, put off, and griped about. And now it's over. I ask in all seriousness: what will I do with all the extra time?

Tonight was my very last night of class at APU. My very last class toward my BS. My very last class until I move and start a graduate program. My very last class until August 2008.

I realize I'm repeating myself, just in different ways, but you guys--this is all kind of crazy to think about and it keeps hitting me. Although I have another academic goal in mind that will take 5 solid years to complete, it feels as though getting this BS has been just as hard and time consuming.

Tonight was a fun night. Our cohort gathered for a last meal. We honored and encouraged each other. We visited another cohort who was just starting their 15-months tonight. We tried to assuage their fears. We bought sweatshirts at the student store. I had to give a speech upon receiving the "Outstanding Student Award" as voted by the faculty, staff & my fellow students. I was honored, truly. We laughed. We cried. Afterward some of us even stood outside for another half hour just talking.

We started with 30 and ended with 20. We survived. We succeeded. We gained weight.
Christmas 2006..............................................................Last day of class, November 27, 2007

For those of you who always wanted to put faces to the names I mentioned in my school stories, here are a few...

Sarah, the girl who still has textbooks in shrink wrap. Rhonda, my partner in crime. Mary, the encourager.

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Diane, the helper to all.... Moy & James, the troublemakers.... Julia, my lead professor and mentor.
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It is good to be finished. No wait. Let me rephrase. It is GREAT to be finished. GO COUGARS!