Getting Back In The Swing Of Things

Hi, Y'all! I know it's been a while. So much has happened since my last post in October. I kind of let life swoop me up for a while and let my posting fall to the wayside.

All of the people that were able to make it to the in person graduation on the stage at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

Where to begin?

Well let's start back in October, shall we?

After my last post in October I had the pleasure of traveling to Arizona with all four of my boys for my college graduation. We made the trip from Tennessee in about 24 hours. Yes, we traveled straight through. It was really interesting to see some of the beautiful landscape as we traveled.

This has always been one of my favorite spots to drive by when I've made the cross country trips west.

Another pretty view from our travels.

One of the pictures of the scenery as we were traveling through Arizona.

An Arizona sunset.

We arrived the evening before my graduation. We were blessed to have been offered accommodations with my program director at her lovely home. My youngest son was enamored with the Saguaro cactus that she had in her front yard.

The beautiful view from Nola's back yard.

My youngest son hugging a Saguaro cactus.

It was great to meet some of my fellow students and some of the instructors from my Paralegal Program in person (since this is an online University).

A small group of the Bryan University Paralegal and Litigation Technologies graduates.

Hanging out with my Program Director, Nola, one of my first instructors, Christine, and Margie.

I got to hang out with Mary The Dean of Students. She is such an amazing woman.

The morning of graduation the students got to tour the school and meet their instructors. During this tour we had the opportunity to learn more about the school and why they teach the way they do. Bryan University approaches education in a different way. They teach Growth Mindset at the core of everything. This concept gave me the ultimate boost at the beginning of my educational journey.

As the time for graduation got closer I got more excited and nervous. One of my fellow students and I have become great friends through school and I finally got to meet her in person. We spent the time before hanging out and taking selfies.

Me and Margie having fun before graduation!

The Tempe Center for the Arts.

Another gorgeous view from the Tempe Center for the Arts.

Margie and I were taking in some of the unique and pretty vegetation.

One of the gorgeous views from the Tempe Center for the Arts.

We all filed into the auditorium and took our seats and awaited the time that we got to walk the stage. We listened to the speakers and each program director's speeches. I am the one that gets teary eyed over life moments but I was holding it together pretty well until my program director gave her speech and got emotional.

There's no denying that it was an exhilarating experience to walk that stage to receive my Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies and Litigation Technologies with honors. I was a horrible student when I was younger and caused my parents many sleepless nights and aggravation so I was especially happy to have my step-dad attend my graduation. I'm just sorry I didn't get to that point before my Mom and Dad passed away but I know they were watching too. I am blessed to be a member of the staff at Bryan University as an Academic Specialist. I am honored to help other students along their educational journey.

This is me with my four boys and my step-dad at the Tempe Center for the Arts..