And I finally finished. My graduation ceremony for those in my class was held last Saturday at Portland State University. I wished that I could have been there. In fact, this was one of those times that was hardest for me to be away from “home” for. I wanted to have a big party to celebrate, for the people who knew all of the struggles I had had in this endeavor to be able to witness that finish-line moment. I actually spent a lot of the week leading up to that day pretty weepy, as I was still processing the fact that is was done and also mourning the absence of community to support me as I closed that chapter.
There was another difficult aspect, too. I actually felt kind of embarrassed that I hadn’t managed to finish my bachelor’s degree until now. I didn’t think I could write about it here at first, because I felt kind of dumb. This has been something that I’ve carried some shame about over the years– my peers earned their masters degrees 10 years ago. No one ever made me feel bad about it, but I did. While I have skills and advanced training and experience in other areas, this was something I had always wanted and expected from myself.
But it’s also the shame part of the experience that has actually compelled me to write about it here. Because I know we all have things in our lives that have seemed impossible. We all have finish lines that were crossed too quietly, without the recognition or celebration those personal victories deserved. I want to share my triumph with you, even though it’s not monumental. It’s very significant to me, though, and I could use a little camaraderie. And I want to encourage you to acknowledge and celebrate your personal milestones, as well!
Jeff and Amelia did a great job of celebrating me, and I am lucky to have them. Jeff took me to a very cool venue for a genuinely awful lunch. Then he and Amelia set up a little cake-and-champagne reception in our garden.
(Jeff watching the champagne cork sail over the fence into our neighbors’ yard– very gratifying.)
Would you be willing to share something you are really proud of accomplishing? I would love to hear about it. We’ll have a little party here!
This post was shared at: Thank Goodness it’s Monday.
I’ve so enjoyed reading through your journeys. Congratulations on your degree! It IS a feat worth celebrating.
I’m a full time student myself and single mom taking a little longer than normal to get my degree. That’s the best thing about college. Everyone’s path is different but we all get to cross the same finish line in our own time. 🙂
Thank you, Beth! And good for you– working on your degree while taking care of your kids– so much work!! I wish you well as you finish.
I feel your joy! Your story is so like mine…it took me 20 years. By the time I finished I had over 160 credits, went to 5 different schools with 6 different majors. The ability and desire were there, but life kept getting in the way of school. It was such a relief, and feeling of freedom, to finally finish. One of my happiest moments.
Thank you for sharing your story– such a huge relief, isn’t it? It’s always nice to hear that others have walked a similar path!
Congratulations! That’s quite an accomplishment, Ariana: most would have given up on finishing long ago. You should be very proud 🙂
I wrote a book recently that will be published in December. It was a longstanding goal, so I feel good about accomplishing it.
Thank you, Winnie. And thank you for sharing about your book– that is SUPER exciting, you must feel so great! I’ll look forward to hearing more about it.
Congratulations Ariana! That’s a fantastic accomplishment!
Thank you, Kristin!
Well done and you should be proud of yourself for getting there in the end.
As for me, I took my bachelors way back in 1985, last year I completed my Masters after four years of study and two universities. Now I’m onto another university in a different country to study for a PhD, only another 3 1/2 years to go. See you have plenty of time yet! 🙂
Thank you , Joanna! I’m impressed that you returned to academia over 20 years later, how exciting!
Congratulations and well done for persevering when it would have been much easier to just not bother 🙂
Thank you, Hazel!
lunch was awful….oh no! Doesn’t matter though because you DID it, congratulations, what a wonderful accomplishment. You should feel proud that you crossed the finish line. Robinlee
Thank you, Robinlee! I am used to awful meals here, so it wasn’t too big of a deal. The cake was wonderful!
Congratulations! You should be so proud. And what an example for your lovely daughter. Well done,
xoxo
Selena
Thank you, Selena!
Congratulations on achieving this wonderful goal. You should be very proud of yourself. Some of us have never been to even one day of University 🙂
I’m sorry you couldn’t celebrate with a large group of your “people”, but glad that those nearest and dearest spoiled you with cake and bubbly. Enjoy your achievement, and God bless you all.
Thank you very much, Susan!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post! I feel like you wrote about me! I am in my (ahem) thirties, three children, moving every three years (military spouse). I too am working on my Bachelor’s degree. I will celebrate with my husband and children but will make sure I don’t have an “awful” lunch. (kidding) I am so glad I found your blog! I smile every time I read it.
-Vic from Ft. Lewis, WA
Hi Vic– so glad that you can relate to my journey. And I love that reading my stories makes you smile. Thank you!
Congratulations!!! I loved reading your post. It is wonderful for you to share so that we can all be inspired ~ and you are inspiring! Shame is a horrible thing ~ I think it has a very hard time surviving if you tell your story and get it out.
Enjoy your success ~ you deserve it!
Hi Gina, I agree with you that telling your story is a very powerful way to get rid of shame. Thank you!!
Congratulations — because you kept at it, because you never gave up, because you reached the finish line. Dreams are beautiful things, but they take a massive amount of determination and hard work to come to fruition.
(As an aside — please never feel dumb because something is “taking too long” or you’re doing it in your own, unique way. One of the smartest things we can do in our lives is eliminate the imaginary voices of others, rattling around in our head.)
Congratulations again. It’s time to read a good book.
Thank you so much, This Woman Writes. I agree with you about silencing those ridiculous voices. And I have been reading some good books lately, and it sure feels great!
Congratulations Ariana! Don’t feel ashamed that it took longer than you thought it would; be proud that you started it and saw it through! I’m a little bit older than you I think and haven’t reached my educational goals yet. You are a great inspiration to me and I applaud you!
Julie
Hi Julie! Thank you so much for your encouragement.
Hey, congrats!
This is actually very inspiring, because I have this problem. I left university years ago to travel and do lot of other stuff, I thought I was going to do it later, but I never got around it. And now it’s haunting me. I still have dreams about going to uni and being completely lost:) I think once I sort out my job (I’ve just arrived), I’ll get around it. At least that bloody bachelor degree:) I’d go for special needs teaching, this is my thing.
Hello Marcinsen! Yes, you can finish that thing! I think older students have some advantages, because they have seen more of life and the world, and have a stronger sense of self. Hopefully, this leads to a more appropriate degree choice. My husband did his masters in special needs, and that eventually lead to a great job overseas!
Hoorah!!! Such a wonderful celebration for you Ariana, and I’m so glad you shared with us here. And I hate to think of you feeling embarrassed or shamed but I understand those feelings well. We all have these narratives in our heads that are hard to let go. But I can just about guarantee you that no one is embarrassed *for* you – we are all thrilled to celebrate with you. And hopefully our cheers (here in the interwebs) will help buoy you in regard to being away from your support group at home :)One of my very best friends just finished her degree quite recently as well. Your story with all its setbacks and struggles reminds me so much of her story – and honestly I think in many ways it makes your successes much more meaningful 🙂 Biggest congratulations for your perseverance and your wonderful accomplishment!
Thank you very much for your encouraging words and sincere cheers from Seattle, Marisa! Such a relief!
I think it means more when you do it yourself, through all sorts of interruption and turmoil. Many university experiences are just going through the motions at the “right time”, but at the expense of mature learning. Your path has been long, but, you had the opportunity to approach your learning with many different perspectives and life experiences mixed in.
Congratulations! Your persistence is admirable and you have reason to celebrate! Love you!
Thank you, Nathan. I do kind of marvel at the many people who sign up for school, do it for four years (especially the ones who don’t have to work much at the same time) and just finish, easy as that! To me it seems miraculous, yet it’s the norm for so many people! And you’re right that my “education” has so many interesting elements mixed in… Thank you!
A belated congratulations!
Congratulations! I know the feeling all too well! In 2005, I went back to school to get certified to teach. It should have taken me two years; I JUST finished in 2012. I still have a pesky thesis that is keeping me from my earning my masters. Sometimes I really want to just say ‘to hell with it!’ but that would be suck a waste since I am soooo close. My goal is to complete it this year. Well, really not a goal since I have little choice as long as my university has already granted me an extension and this is my final deadline. It’s do or die time! – Melissa
Congratulations!!!I’m admiring that it’s all been achieved in a busy life. Such an inspiring example helped me a lot to look out for the positives.Beautiful photo too! kristina