I graduated High School in 2005. Since then, I have gone through so much (as most people do in their college years): Sorority rush, loosing my grandmother, taking a break from school (and getting a job), living on my own, going through a bad breakup, dating my husband, getting into TCU, getting married and finally graduating!
I'm not going to lie. I only applied to two schools. My whole life I wanted to go to A&M. I bled maroon. Becoming an aggie was the only consistent dream in my life. ...until I didn't get in. I wasn't in the top 10% of my class, but my grades weren't bad - at least I didn't think so. And I knew people who ranked lower than me (or certainly had grades worse than mine) that got in. But oh well, there I was. I didn't want to go far from home - my grandmother was battling cancer and the thought of something happening and not being able to be there made me sick. So on to Sam Houston State University it was.
I didn't know if I wanted to pledge, but I went through rush. I ended up pledging Sigma Sigma Sigma - and I am still so glad I did. It made all the difference in my time at Sam. *To all my Sigma Sisters, SLAM!*
The next semester was a little insane. I lost my grandmother and then I lost my direction in life. Not that she WAS my direction, but losing her made me re-evaluate EVERYTHING. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I decided that I was sick of school. I'd been doing nothing but school since I could remember and I was just tired of it all. My grades were reflecting that. I finally got the nerve to tell my parents that I wanted to take a semester off. That went well, let me tell you (please note the great deal of sarcasm). Now I must take a minute to tell you how incredibly blessed I am to have had my parents' emotional and financial support through school. But, according to them, if I wasn't in school, the financial support wasn't there either.
After spending a summer as a counselor at Heart O' the Hills (the camp I attended as a young girl), I got a job and an apartment and started taking care of myself. EVERYONE I talked to expressed their concern for me not being in school, and even after I explained that it was just a semester, they would go on to tell me how few people go back. I never really understood why no one believed me, but I do understand their concern came from a place of love. I stuck to my word and took a few classes at Kingwood College that spring while still maintaining my job and independent living situation.
The following fall, I went back to Sam. As I mentioned earlier, my transcripts weren't stellar. In Texas, we have the option to repeat a class and replace the grade on our transcript. So I did just that. For the next two semesters, I made the President's List and the Dean's List all three semesters I spent there. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was actually smart. You see, growing up, I never had the grades my brother did and I NEVER felt I could come close to achieving what he had. At least not academically. And here I was making the President's list!
Chad decided he wanted to go to fire school (in Rockwall) in the summer of 2009, so I started looking at schools in North Texas to see what there was and decide if I wanted to transfer. I looked at SMU, UTD and TCU. SMU never even returned my calls, so I never applied. I was accepted to UTD and received a scholarship offer from them.
And then I got into TCU.
Up to that point in my life, this was my greatest accomplishment. Even after classes began, I still wondered if I really belonged here (a feeling that would drastically change by the time I graduated). It wasn't easy - that's for sure. I didn't know it then, but over the next two and a half years, I would work harder than I ever had in my life. I never made the President's List at TCU, but I learned more than I ever had - about the subjects I was studying and about myself.
And then there was football. I never attended a game at Sam. I just never really was into it (and there wasn't really much to get 'into' anyway). One of the last classes I took at Sam was a public speaking course. One of our assignments was to give a persuasive speech and so I did mine on the BCS ...and why it sucks. I will be the first to admit I got a lot of help from Chad on this one. But this was the first time I really started to care. I can't remember if I missed any games that first season, but I didn't miss a single one in 2010. However, I have never been to a bowl game. We missed the Fiesta Bowl because we were getting married a week later. After that, we said if they EVER went to a bowl game again, we would BE THERE. ...then my brother got married on Jan. 1 (for those of you not keeping track, that was the day TCU won the Rose Bowl). SO, when we go to another bowl game, WE WILL BE THERE! I mean it this time! :) I've been to Tech, UT, and A&M games, but there's nothing I've experienced in my life like being at a TCU football game (particularly in the student section). I'm sure it's the feeling anyone has when they sit in their school's stadium, but I like to think there's something special about TCU.
Speaking of "special," you'll probably hear from just about anyone who attended TCU that it's "a special place." It's the campus. It's the students. It's the faculty and staff. It's Fort Worth. I could write a novel on this, but I think I've gotten my point across. ...and I'm pretty sure you're ready to read about graduation!
Fast forward to the last day as a student at TCU - May 4th. One of the things I love about TCU is that when we graduate, we get our actual diploma. All seniors must take their finals and have grades in by the Wednesday before graduation so that they can make sure we actually passed - or we don't get to walk. It was my last final. Personal Selling was the class and Bob Akin was the professor. Akin is one of the reasons I think TCU is such a special place and he is one of the greatest professors I will ever have in my life. I remember a few of us stuck around after the final was over - just talking and whatnot. While I was participating in the conversation, the main reason I stuck around was because I didn't want to leave. Once I walked out of that building, it was over. Everything I worked for over the last 6 years would be completed. I don't know how long I stayed, but when I walked out the door, I literally felt this weight off my shoulder, and at the same time, began to cry a little.
Three days later, it was time to put on my purple robe, hat and shoes. Just about everyone came up for my graduation - which meant more to me than any of them will ever know. My maw maw and pap were there - 5 months after he had a really had stroke. I actually didn't think they would come, but they did! My grandaddy and his wife, Lois, came up and so did my Aunt, Uncle, and my cousins (and one of their boyfriends). My in-laws came and two of my step siblings came as well. The one that meant a lot to me was my sister-in-law. She came in from Mississippi, leaving my brother alone with his studying and came with her mom. Of course my parents were there. All four of them! Honestly, if it hadn't been for my mom, I don't know that Maw Maw and Pap would have made it.
That's one of the things I thought about as we waited in line to walk in. That and that my feet really hurt. It seemed like we stood there forever! Finally, we stared to walk. Down stairs, through halls, down more stairs, then finally onto the coliseum floor.
Most of you know I'm a little corny. Over the year proceeding up to graduation, I would almost cry at the thought of it actually happening and any time I actually heard "Pomp and Circumstance," I would get overcome with emotion. So as we're walking out of the tunnel, I expect to hear it - but they NEVER played it! I was a little disappointed, I must admit. We took our seats and waited. The whole time I sat there, I tried to absorb everything that was happening. I also thought about everything I had gone through since high school. I thought about Chad and all the support he had given me over the past four years - and how I couldn't have done any of this without him.
As my row got up to receive our diplomas, I thought, "Here I am. A girl who all but succeeded her first year of school. And now I'm graduating - from TCU!" And then it was done!
I refused to take pictures outside. It was disgustingly hot (as it remained until TODAY). We went straight to the White Elephant Saloon where we met up with my friends Melanie and Andrew, as well as my brother-in-law and sister-in-law for drinks and hors' d'oeuvres. Then we headed over to The Lonesome Dove for dinner. Oh my gosh it was so delicious! I am a HUGE fan of Chef Tim Love (actually, I'm just a fan of amazing food, regardless of who prepared it) and if you ever find yourself this was of the Trinity River, you should try one of his restaurants (Love Shack is my absolute favorite burger place).
It was such a wonderful weekend and one I won't soon forget. I am so blessed to have so many people in my life who not only love and support me, but actually wanted to be there for me. A lot of people don't have that and I am so grateful for it all.
Thanks for reading!
God bless!
-Shelley
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