Finish what you started

It didn't hit me until now. Its been almost two months since I have successful completed all my classes for graduation, I knew it was over, but why was today different?

Im not sure why, but I had a urge to go back to my diary from years ago. I recall writing something about wanting to obtain an education and I wanted to reflect on what I wrote to see how far I have actually come since then. Ironically I couldn't find that journal entry, but what I did find was something I wrote October 15th 2004, six years ago, almost to the date. I found this really strange considering I never wrote down the date in my diary.

October 15th, 2004 I was 18 years old and 7 months pregnant, alone, terrified but yet I still had hope and a willingness that the life growing inside me was not a death sentence of my own life.
On this day I wrote, "life is like a newly paved road, in the beginning you are brand new, nothing to worry about.  The future will bring rough patches. We either prepare for them or let them destroy us. Eventually giving up, that road is never travelled and no longer used. I always believed that everything happens for a reason, regardless of circumstances, everyone was brought to this earth for one reason. Being pregnant at a young age isn't always the easiest but I don't seem to view it as a bad thing."

Today... October 16th 2010 I graduated University with a Honours degree in Social Work and my family in the audience supporting me all the way. As I approach the stage I look out in attempts to see where they are sitting and the only person I can see is my 5 year old son waving at me with a huge smile on his face. My greatest accomplishment today was not receiving my diploma but hearing the words come out of his mouth when he told me he was proud of me.

My road has many pot holes, some of those holes have been repaired and some will take longer to get fixed. I have navigated my way on this path around many obstacles, some of which hurt like hell and still do but I have become a stronger person because of them. I will not allow my path to be abandoned, I refuse to give up.

I dedicate this blog to the three boys who have supported me through the last 4 years of my life. I am grateful for so many things, but my children and husband just make life that much better :) xoxox