Hey! Hey! Everyone guess who is graduating? ME!!!

Here is some background for you to understand why this a big deal. When I was little, I struggled in school, not just because I was lazy but because I didn't think any of it mattered. Fast forward I joined the military at 19 and was married by 20 and became a mommy at 21. I got out of the military thinking that I will just be a stay-at-home mom, so education was the last thing on my mind. When my daughter was a year old my marriage was falling apart, and I knew then I needed to figure something out. So, I enrolled in online school so that I could still be home with my baby and not take any time away from the household. Well, you guessed it, that didn't turn out very well. I dropped out and started working multiple jobs to make ends meet for about 4-5 years. School was the last thing on my mind and frankly I didn't have the time for it.

After I had my second daughter I was connected with a job I never would have expected. It was in mental health something I never looked twice at. Actually the first 6 months I was so scared I didnt make eye contact with anyone. But overtime and exposer I learned that I loved working with people and had the heart and mindset to help. Still school was not part of the plan although I had jokingly metioned it. When covid hit the world was turned upside down, and I decided that was going to get my certification for medical assistanting. At this point I had not been to school in 10 years, and I really didnt think I was going to do very well. But i did! I have spent the last 4 years working as a medical assistant in different specailties and really have loved it. I have been a single mother since my first daughter was 2 and as needed always did what i needed to do to make sure my children were cared for. But I, Leah needed more.

So last year with the support and encouragement of my family and partner I enrolled back in school but this time with a plan. I worked full time and have been taking a full class load to complete my degree in Psychology. Now many of you may ask why not take only a few classes and not overload yourself. Well there is a clock ticking. See when I was in the military I was able to get access to my GI bill but it will expire in spring 2027 so, when I enrolled auguest of 2024 I have 3 years to complete my Bacholors. But that was not enough for my becuase to do what I really want to do which is become a Marriage and Family therapist I need my Masters. So I had 36 months to complete 5 years worth of school. I was lucky that my military time transfered over a small portion of credits. But the rest has been hard work and long hours. I will be finishing up my Bachelors in March of 2026 then jumping right into my master's with a full load.

I have been going back and forth if I should walk across the stage to receive my diploma for both my bachelors and my master's or just the Masters. Then I found out that walking doesn't come free. So, with encouragement (and when I say that I mean being told this is what I am doing) from my big sisters, I am reaching out for help to celebrate all the work I have been putting in and be able to walk across a stage I never thought I had any business being on.