Off Topic: Celebration

I am a little distracted this week, so if I seem off or inattentive I apologize in advace. There are a few reasons for this, but I think the largest of them is that I am making a surprise visit home over the weekend. I haven’t been home for probably over six years, so this in and of itself is of some note, but the reason I’m going home is much more important.

You see, roughly seven or so years ago I nudged my mother into going to college. She’d had me very young, and in a time when women attending college were still more an exception than a rule, which meant that even though she really wanted to achieve a higher education, she instead raised a child. She’s always been quite brilliant, so it was easy to talk her into considering that higher education now that her children were all grown up.

I told her to start with just a few courses at the community college, and see how it suited her. Well, it turns out that it suited her quite well. Because after lying down the base course work required, she applied to the college of education at one of the major universities in the area, and the one formally known as the teacher’s university, and received admission. It took her a few years longer than it would your average student, because she continued to work while going to school. But here some seven years later, she is graduating with a college degree.

She excelled at her academics (I’m not surprised) and will be walking with something like a 3.9 GPA. She aced her licensure exam and scored within the top 5% of all people in the country sitting for the exam, something that will be noted on her permanent licensure record. And I am exceedingly proud of her.

And so, come Thursday afternoon, my father will be picking me up at the airport and taking me home. I will be walking in the door, a complete surprise to my mother, and taking her to her graduation. Followed the day after my a celebration I’ve been organizing with my uncle for family to share in her achievements. I can’t wait to see the look on her face.

It also occurs to me that my mom will be sharing this particular graduation celebration with a number of other people who are also reaching milestones in their lives, and that those folks should be lauded as well. So I want to take this moment and congratulate all of you who will be proudly crossing that stage this May. I wish you a bright and fulfilled future!