Alas…..My First Semester Has Come & Gone!

Yesterday I officially completed my first semester of school.  After weeks of hard work and extremely late nights I managed to actually pull it off getting A’s in all three of my classes.  This in itself might seem minor to most, but my former track record as a student has not been good.  When I initially started school at the tender age of 18 I spent most if not all of my time partying.  I’m not even sure if I opened a book.  My classes were on Monday – Thursday and I spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday night partaking in those wonderful college rituals that (let’s just say) distracted me to complete irrationality.  Alcohol was plentiful and so was the pot.  Needless to say I decided that I was going to test the waters and ended up jumping in head first.  My other problems (as if I could have any more) revolved around men.  I decided that I was going to marry a man I met through my little brother who basically convinced me to drop out of school and move in with him.  I was unfocused and completely spontaneous during my formative years.  Due to my flightiness I was unable and unwilling to complete college.

It took me a long time to figure it out but I realize now that I was not emotionally ready to be in school those many years ago.  Above and beyond my insatiable desire to party, I now understand that my need to belong and my inability to cope with my home life played an integral part in my inability to complete my education.  Don’t misunderstand I am not placing blame on anyone but myself for my condition but I realize that sometimes life circumstances can lead us to do some pretty irresponsible things.    

Now at the tender YOUNG age of 37 I have decided to go back and finish the degree that I (kind of) started almost 20 years ago.  My goal is to have my degree in hand before my 40^th birthday.  The past few weeks have not been easy especially after school started for the kids.  I spend my days teaching them, which is definitely fun, but I find that I was often unable to do my work until late at night after I put them to bed.  Some nights I wouldn’t get to bed until 2:00 am.  So, this is a major accomplishment for me.  I had many doubts about being able to educate myself and the children at the same time.  This semester proved to me that I am more than capable of achieving my goals.  Yeah…….for the first time since (I believe) junior high school I earned an A.  I’m very serious when I say that I can barely remember when I have received an acceptable grade.  Report card times for me were always scary.  Some days I just didn’t want to come home. 

I have a few days off from school this week.  The next semester starts on the 10^th.  Hmmm……I don’t know what I’ll do with myself.  I know……….laundry.  Laundry is the one thing in my life next to taxes and death that remains forever consistent and true.  It’s unavoidable! 

My next three classes are Art History 100, Intro to Adobe Photoshop and College Writing!!  What fun…..I can’t wait!  I better get as much rest as I can this week because next week my late nights will most definitely return and my wonderful laundry pile will undoubtedly return as well.