Yep, ASU class of 2010 here we come! Though having a child will be one of the most important things I will ever do, this is certainly up there with it for me.
Truthfully.
I'll miss school, it has always been a talent of mine. Not because I ever considered myself terribly "smart," though I am certainly left-brained, just maybe a little over-ambitious and motivated. Things never came too easily for me, but I worked hard and maybe bs-ed a bit here and there and made it through just fine. I graduated high school in three years, at the time wanting to get away from the drone and confinement of being there. Call me impatient, but I wouldn't have it any other way, and would support any child of mine who wanted to do the same (just like my parents did for me). I remember at the time of graduation, I was still questioning why I went through all the effort to graduate early when I could still go down the same exact route, scholarship and all, next year. Of course, then I met Elliott my freshman year of college--or what would have been my senior year of high school. I realized, oh, so THAT'S why. I will be graduating college early for a more "intentional" reason, and will be sad when the semester's over. I don't think I rushed through anything, and even if I completed high school and undergrad in 8 years versus 6, I would be feeling the same way--only two years from now.
I get so excited for my sister-in-law, Brianne, who is looking into returning to school for her Master's soon. I know that will be me someday. She was/is very much so like me in that she had her first baby at 20 and graduated high school and college in three years for, in so many words, "the future's sake." She has spent years being there for her children, and I plan on doing the same for mine. For me, the possibility and probability of returning to school in the future makes this indefinite break even more exciting. I've been looking forward to being done with school to focus on my family. Because I have propelled myself through two diplomas in 6 years, I spent a lot of time neglecting to learn various life skills and hobbies that are also so important and critical to make time for. I can't multi-task very well and had to just "do" school for the time being.
I am excited because I want spend more time with my mom learning how to sew. I want to take more time meal-planning/cooking PERIOD and perfect some of my mom's and Pam's recipes (and maybe find a few yummy ones of my own to try). I want to practice my Samoan!!! That's right, we have books, I've been learning. I want to develop the talent of exercising! If I'm going to be popping out several kids in the next FEW years here, I gotta stay in somewhat good shape. By the way, thank you, thank you, thank you, to Pam and Jay for lending us your treadmill and donating your amazing weight set to us (all of us). It's currently set up at our house now and I WILL LEARN how to use it. So maybe I've never stepped foot on a treadmill before Sunday and have used a weight set twice in my life. I want to RE-LEARN the basic piano and guitar skills I used to have but forgot once I spent more time in the college and dating-Elliott scene. I want to LEARN how to budget. Yeah, funny, but I've been pretty spoiled by my sugar daddy and hope to give back a little bit to him by paying more attention to ad's, coupons and our finances in general. Most importantly, I want to gain experience being a mother and develop my own "mothering groove."
One of my favorite things on Earth is variety. I don't like staying in the same hotel too often, eating at the same restaurants all the time, ordering the same food, doing the same daily routine, buying the same cereals, the usual. I love the indefinite time I will be able to spend with my children (and the freedom to "change-up" the way we'll do things). I love the prospect of returning to school once my kids are much older. I love my Elliott for making this all possible.
Faifai lemu. (That's Samoan for "Take it Easy").
4 comments:
Alisa, I am so "very well pleased" with you and your marvelous choices! You have done well, and will continue to do so. You listened to the Spirit, and he has guided you on your path. I wish I had recognized the things the Spirit was saying to me more. I got to have my dream job: being a Mom...and I wouldn't trade a single dance lesson or homeroom party or chorus concert or football/baseball game for anything in the world. I only wish I had put my education in higher priority. Now, many of my classes won't be accepted by any school, and, though I need to go back to work to help out around here, I cannot get any kind of employment. You are wise beyond your years, and I so admire you!!! Congrats...on school, and on your next big, and most wonderful, life step: Mommy!
Congrats! That is very exciting. Such a huge milestone. I am a huge advocate for education, so I LOVED your post!:) I bet you are counting down the days/hours/minutes till graduation! It's nice to have a break between you're bachelor's and master's...that's exactly what I'm doing. Enjoy it! And enjoy being a mommy:)
Congrats, girl! Getting your degree really is a big accomplishment. And you're right, there is always so much learn, especially from life. I know you'll enjoy the next several years of motherhood and learning life skills!
Thanks, you are all too sweet. Funny enough, you lovely ladies are some of the more amazingly creative and "crafty" (I hate saying that word but there's really no better way to describe it!) people that I think of when I think of people who, in addition to school, have really applied themselves in other areas of life that have benefited so many other people and always leave me in awe!
Sister Rice, I can only imagine how different school was a "few" years ago versus today. It seems as though women were even more in an uphill battle to finish their education (my own mom going back to BYU now) than they are now. I've always admired how you seem to take the resources available to you and demonstrate your knowledge and love in such a way that has affected me personally in terms of learning about the Gospel (through your lessons), loving whatever life has in store (through your example), and gaining an appreciation for creativity (through that Christmas Village and those ornaments!!)--just to name a few things.
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