Natalie and I used to refer to MCC (Mesa Community College) as MC Cool - it still totally is if any of you were wondering and not getting our sarcasm. I hate math. I hate school. I am not good at it. Why bother. That's my thoughts on the whole thing, although I suppose if I actually applied myself, I might be semi-good at it.
I never finished my AA because I couldn't pass math to save my life. I believe I dropped it 4 times, and yes, since Caryn will read this and want me to add this, I did indeed drop the class when I took it with my little sister who was still in high school and she ended up passing with an A. Whatever.
My patriarchal blessing says that the key to my future is an education. I like to think that means street cred, I totally have that, jk. I have always thought I should finish my dang AA and just be done with it. I was only 4 classes short anyways, 2 science lectures, 1 lab and of course my dang math. Now that Emma is getting older, I wanted her to know the importance of having an education, even if I didn't. I also, figured since she is so smart she would realize that I didn't have one and could throw that in my face so I needed to be an example to her. I finally decided to go back to school and just finish my AA.
I started out my first semester with a geography lab and lecture, woo hoo! Easy peasy. I got through the class no problem, didn't even really study and still ended up with a B - quite proud of myself (kids, don't follow my example).
Halfway through the semester it was time to meet with a counselor to make sure I had the classes I needed to finish and graduate in May. This counselor was the most amazing person I will meet for the next several years. After we talked for a bit he informed me that I could graduate with AGS (Associate in General Studies) instead of AA and that way I wouldn't have to take the last math class. After he assured me several times it was legit and was really possible, I told him I could make-out with him right then and then quickly followed it up with, "if you are wrong, so help me I will hunt you down and I am not even kidding!"
I signed up for my last class which ended up being a nutrition class. I thought this would be fun and easy since I like to eat and it would be nice to learn a few things that would make me skinny. This class was not that at all. It was hard. I did not have any science back ground and I did not have any other nutrition classes under my belt either. So I did the next best thing, I played the mother card. I realized last semester that when attending a community college the teachers like you a lot more and go a lot easier on you when they realize you are not fresh out of high school and that I am a mom of 4 just trying to get an education. It worked. I passed with another B, despite my failing the mid-term and final, woo hoo!
Yes, I did send out graduation announcements, I thought Jared and I were quite funny with them (and we might have peed a little from laughing so hard while taking the pictures and putting the announcement together). I also, walked. Total nerd, I know. The reason behind me walking was not for myself, but for Emma. I did this for her, so she could see the importance of it. If I were just going to get a piece of paper in the mail (which still hasn't come) she wouldn't get it, or understand it. I had to walk in the cap and gown and make her sit through the ceremony. It worked. She was excited.
My parents, husband and boys were not that excited about attending but they put on their best faces. After they called my name after sitting there for 2 hours, I sent a text to Jared saying, if you are willing to get up and leave in the middle, I will too. He did. I walked out while they were still reading off names. I know totally rude to the other graduates, but to the people sitting next to my boys, you are welcome!
Graduation secretly ended up being kinda fun. I was actually more proud of myself then I thought I would be. Emma had a dance competition that night and her studio changed her dance time to earlier so Emma and I could sneak out right after she danced and make it on time. I was really grateful for everyone being so supportive of my little lame graduation and sending cards, little gifts and even dropping off fun surprises - I should graduate more often, ha ha!
With the graduation announcement, we attached this little piece of paper :)
Hello Friends :)
Jared and I decided we made this graduation announcement so
good you might actually think we were being serious with the pictures and what
not, so we thought it would be best to include a little note to make sure you
all were laughing with me and not at me!
I am graduating with my AA in a couple of weeks and I decided to walk so
that my kids would be there and see the importance of going to college. I
decided a piece of paper in the mail wouldn’t mean anything to them, so we are
all going to suffer in the heat for 2 long boring hours to watch me walk, this
is why I am wicked awesome :)
Please enjoy the announcement as much as we did, while we peed our pants
laughing at the “serious” poses we took. Happy Day! ~ Love, Carol
Me waiting in some waiting hall for an hour before we could march in...
Before they call your name, they make you stand and take a picture with a dipolma...
Jared took this picture of me on the big screen after they called my name....
After we snuck out of the ceremony early I took a few pictures before my parents left, Jared left (yes, he ditched me for his friends) and then me and the kiddos just went home.
The week of graduation got pretty crazy with Emma having a dance competition on Friday night, which never happens and Eli had baseball practice with ex-pro baseball players that night so it was looking like walking was going to just be to much so my mom said that if I didn't walk she would take me to lunch, well, I walked and she still took me :)
