For the last few weeks, my brain has been bouncing between Disney's "Human Again" and "One Day More" from Les Miserables.
These two years have been the most emotional roller coaster I have ever experienced. The last few hurdles have been rough. Clayton and Anya have been extremely patient and supportive through the intense anxiety (and physical illness) of taking my comprehensive exams and studying for (and finally passing) my Praxis exam. Without them (Clayton is especially amazing), and the support of family, friends, colleagues, professors, and the other graduate students in my cohort, I would not have made it, but...
It's done. I'm finished! It's over!
Apparently I was excited enough about being through with the whole ordeal that I thought it would be a great idea to celebrate twice (or maybe I just thought walking twice would make up for Clayton NOT walking when he got his Master's). At USU in Vernal, I was partly obligated to walk since I had been selected the Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year.
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| Dean Boyd Edwards and Associate Dean Derrik Tollefson presenting the Outstanding Graduate Student Award |
This meant, unfortunately for everyone, that I had to speak. UGH!
Twenty years ago I first walked to Pomp and Circumstance played on my behalf. Naturally, as most 17 year old confidently do, I had my entire life mapped out: I would attend college, graduate, get married, and teach until I had children and became a stay-at-home mom -- and of course live happily ever after. Four years later, things were pretty well on track. I had completed my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Utah State University in Logan and was engaged to be married later that summer. Having survived (rather successfully, I reminded myself) the excitement, changes, and stress of campus life I eagerly anticipated the next phase in my plan. However, life is unpredictable and I soon found that my plan was to be altered and embellished -- more than once.
Three years later, after moving across the country with my husband for his PhD, we had our first child and I stopped teaching and began staying home. Though farther from family than I had imagined, things were still on schedule for my happily ever after. Another 3 years passed and our daughter was born. As I enjoyed motherhood, I realized my education and resultant few years of teaching experience had equipped me with many skills which I found incredibly useful. But based on what I had learned of child development, we began to realize that our son had significant delays, eventually discovering that he had a rare and progressive genetic disorder. His treatment required hours of therapy every week and countless visits to doctors and specialists in addition to school. This was a major game changer and, while I was still able to be a "stay-at-home mom", we were rarely actually at home. It was through participation in his speech therapy sessions, however, that I found a new passion and made another big course adjustment: I would become a speech-language pathologist. Luckily, I was able to earn a second bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders through Utah State, despite living in Pittsburgh at the time. The flexibility of this online program allowed me to care for my two small children and attend therapy while completing coursework at night. Without this option I would have missed the opportunity to develop new skills which enabled me to help my own son and would one day (after my children were grown, I assumed) provide assistance to other children and families in similar situations.
After a few more moves, we eventually ended up in Vernal nearly 4 years ago. Because of the temporary nature of my husband's positions up to that point, I had been unable to pursue the graduate degree necessary to begin work as a speech-language pathologist. By the time we knew he had a job with Utah Stat and we'd be moving to Vernal, deadlines for applications had passed. However, we had realized by now that our son's increasing medical needs required a second income and I once again found myself teaching. Though not what I had originally envisioned, I enjoyed it and found that my additional education had provided insight and skills which were continuing to benefit the children I taught.
We were making it work and things seemed to be going pretty smoothly. Still, I knew I needed to complete a master's degree and now that we were settled and could count on at least a few years in one place, we decided the time was right. USU came to the rescue yet again with a program designed to meet the growing need for therapists in rural school districts throughout the state. The flexibility and innovation of this program would enable to me to continue helping support our family as well as serving local students by working as a speech therapist in the schools while also allowing me to obtain the skills and training necessary to achieve my goal.
So nearly fourteen years after completion of my first USU degree, I began a third -- again in Logan for the first summer semester of my master's program. Though a difficult time of separation from my family, fortunately it was only one summer since the majority of my program could be completed from home in the Basin. But my path was once again altered when two weeks into fall semester our son unexpectedly passed away. He had been the inspiration for me pursuing this new degree and his loss initially took much of the wind from my sails. However, I found support and encouragement not only from my family but now from new classmates, colleagues, and professors as well -- all pushing, pulling, lifting, and buoying me through to completion of my goal. I was reminded again that though the knowledge and skills I had used to help Ian through difficulties with communication, speech, eating, and swallowing had been invaluable to me in caring for him, they were not now wasted -- and that I could share them to benefit other families.
Now having again marched in line to this solemn processional tune, I stand before you today overwhelmed with gratitude that I have been the beneficiary of USU's vision and commitment to extend quality education to all students. I have received valuable training from USU first as a traditional on-campus student, then through an entirely online program, and finally through combined IVC and face-to-face delivery, which would not have been possible without the flexibility offered through the variety of program models. My education has blessed my life and that of my family and has also enabled me to contribute to my community wherever we have lived.
Over the years as I've contemplated my initial plan and compared it to the direction my life has taken, I have often thought of Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken." My road has diverged many times from its original course, and though I could not see where they would lead, Utah Stat University programs have helped make it possible for me to navigate each necessary fork. I have taken the road less traveled and the relationships, mentoring, and education that has enriched my life has made all the difference. I thank USU administration and faculty for their dedication and commitment to their students and look forward to the opportunity of a lifetime of continued learning in whatever happily ever after may follow.
But, the upside was that Clayton got to hood me, which I thought was only fitting since he had carried a huge portion of the weight as I was completing the program.
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| Isn't the professor on the right just the handsomest you've ever seen? ;) |
And apparently when you live in a rural area, graduation makes the news...repeatedly...
In Logan, I mostly chose to walk because I knew it would be my last chance to celebrate with my cohort -- who had all been so helpful, kind, encouraging, and supportive to one another throughout the program. No back-biting or competition. We worked together, studied together, and shared everything about this learning experience. What a wonderful group of people! So glad to know them...
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| The walk... |
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| Most of our cohort |
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| HOORAY!!! |
The graduate school marathon is over...until I decide to get my PhD. (hahaha!!!)
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| At Ian's Spot |
From the first inspiration to embark on this journey when we began speech therapy with Ian, through juggling his care and therapy during my undergraduate years, to leaving him and Anya with Clayton as I began the Master's, to losing him early in that first semester, to sitting through classes just across from the cemetery, the whole endeavor has had Ian at its center. In the end, I hope that I will have the opportunity and ability to make as much difference to even one family as he (and our experiences through him) have to our family. We love you, buddy! Your magic lives on...
