On June 19, 2022, I finally graduated and walked with the class of 2022 at Citrus Community College. I am proud to say that I have completed my Associates of Arts degree in Psychology and a certification in Sociology.  It took me four years to accomplish this but guess what, I did it and that is all that matters.  I will be transferring to a four year university in the Spring of 2023.  I am waiting to hear from CSU San Marcos for acceptance into their extended learning program for my BA in Sociology.  My goal initially was to obtain my BA in Psychology but after I completed the sociology classes, I found I really like these courses more than psychology.  I also plan to get another associates degree in Administration of Justice.  I had considered a minor in AJ but I think this will be the more economical route at this point.

The commencement was amazing. Of course I cried. I could not believe that I had finally completed my second milestone in this journey.  Why is it my second?  Just a week prior, I completed my high school equivalency.  I refused to hold any type of college degree without first doing what was necessary to complete the requirements for my high school diploma.  All these years I felt like such a hypocrite telling my children the importance of graduating high school and I didn’t finish.  When I say it has been a journey, it has been something else!  I’m going to keep on pushing because I really want to be finished by my 55th birthday.  Pray for me, because I’m going to need it.

Every year people make resolutions, goals and the traditional “out with the old and in with the new” as we bring in the new year.  Resolutions work for a lot of people but I have never found that they worked for me.  I normally spend time writing my resolution all pretty, tacking it to the mirror, bed post or wherever I feel I’m going to look at it and then by the end of January, I have forgotten about it. The resolution thing just doesn’t work for me.

I have reflected on 2018 and all that I have lost and have gained up until this point.  Father’s day weekend, 2018, I lost my father.  In July 2018, I turned 50.  I haven’t healed yet from the loss but each day it does get a little better.  My father and I were close and I always strived to make him proud of me.  I was his only daughter and the baby. I was his little girl.

Briefly, I will bullet what I will strive to achieve in 2019.

• Self-care.  I have looked into Yoga and meditation.  I’m sure I could stand to lose 20 pounds but I’m not going to kill myself doing so. I will work on it slowly but surely so that I can become healthier and not bring those extra pounds into 2020.
• Saving.  Setting a unrealistic goal on saving money will only upset me in the long run.  I can only save what I can save.  Here is what I have set up as far as savings.
  • January to March – 5% of each check
  • April to June – 10% of each check
  • July to September – 15% of each check
  • October to December – 20% of each check
• Travel.  My girlfriend of 34 years and I have decided to take a trip somewhere in December.  We are thinking international and I’m in charge of the trip planning.
• Passport.  I have procrastinated obtaining my passport but since I will be traveling internationally this year, it’s a must.
• Education.  I went back to school in August 2017 and I am majoring in Psychology. While my GPA isn’t the worst, I feel I could do much better.  Therefore, I am striving for at least a 3.5 GPA for Winter and Spring. This GPA will allow me to become a member of Beta Nu Eta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor society and make the Dean’s list.

As of now, I feel that these are all realistic goals for 2019.  As the year progresses, I may have to alter my goals and that’s o.k.  Setting goals for yourself doesn’t always mean you will achieve everything in the time frame that you have given yourself but for me it’s a really good start.  I have to learn to live for me as well and self-care is my main focus. Each year I strive to be a better person not only for me but for my children.  I want them to always look to me as someone they can be proud of.