IT HAPPENED! I FINALLY graduated from college!
Through everything I've been through in the past 4-1/2 years, it's pretty unreal that I have this actual diploma in my hand. With that being said, I want to take the time to really thank everyone who has helped me along the way.
First off, a HUGE thank you to my parents. You have been there through every single hurdle along the way! Most of the time, I don't know how you guys still want to keep me around, but you do! Through the daily phone calls, the financial investments, the medical turmoils, and all the smiles, you've been by my side every step of the way. This one's for you! (Also, thank you to all of my extended family and brother for the support and love you've given to me!)
To my husband: something I NEVER imagined I would say with a degree in my hand. It's unreal that I have known "of" you since my freshman year, hanging out with you and becoming best friends my sophomore year, and then getting to MARRY you at the end of my senior year! Words cannot express how much you mean to me. (And thank you to all the boys I've dated in college along the way to make me realize that Kyle was/is the only person I could truly be with for the rest of my life; to realize that he is all I will ever need!) Thank you for putting up with all of my beautiful mess.
To all of my girlfriends: boy oh boy, there are some stories we could tell! Some stories we may need to never tell (wink wink). I want to thank all of you lovely ladies. The best part is, I've known all of you since my freshman year as well! Look how far we've come! Some of you getting your masters, some of you with real people jobs, and some of you graduating right along with me! I love each and every one of you and I never want to lose contact with you girls. We did it!
To my doctors: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. Mostly thank you for never giving up on me, and thank you for understanding how I felt. Thank you for not letting me go through college suffering all the way. Thank you to the surgeons who removed my gallbladder, removed my endometriosis, removed my appendix, and placed and removed my port. SHEESH. I never would've thought my first surgery would be in college, let alone having multiple surgeries and hospital stays to follow. As I sit here right now in IV writing this, I still can't BELIVE I made it through college through all of my health hurdles. (This is also the time where I can thank everyone who I listed above for all the ER and hospital visits you guys have done for me! Also, thank you to all of the AMAZING nurses that I've had. I could NOT have survived without each and every one of you!) I've come a LONG LONG way and I can't thank my doctors enough. And, sorry, you're still stuck with me for years to come!
To the high school: Thank you to the science department for the last two years of putting up with me, letting me teach your kids, making me laugh, passing me through student teaching, and helping me land a job with you guys! I can't thank you enough, and I cannot WAIT to be working beside you in a month!!
To my bosses at UNCA: Thank you SO MUCH for letting me work beside you guys for all these years. For the VC for Student Affairs office: I am so BLESSED to have landed a job with you guys since day one of college, and have been able to work along beside you wonderful people for all of my years of college. Growing with you guys has been truly a blessing. And a hug from the VC as I received my diploma was a wonderful way to end my college career. I love you guys! For the residential education office: I am so grateful for the opportunity to be an RA for the last 3-1/2 years. I won't lie; it wasn't an easy job, but it sure made me grow! I never IMAGINED all of the circumstances I would come across as an RA. I can proudly say that I accomplished my goals as an RA, and more! Being a teacher will be a breeze now (haha, maybe!) But, thank you to the wonderful bosses that I had as an RA and your support through all of my hurdles. Couldn't have done it without you all!
And last but never the least: Thank you GOD! My faith has been tested a million times, but your love for me never failed. I am here today all because of you. Every single circumstance through my college career has only made me stronger and cling to you even harder. I can't imagine my life without you.
To everyone else in my life, thank you. A million times thank you.
