I am beyond ready to finish school! It feels like I have been in college forever! After high school I went to Tacoma Community College and did my AA degree in 2 years while playing soccer, I then transferred to EWU as a junior and majored in Physical Education. I did not care for the major I was in and after my first quarter I switched to Exercise Science! I loved my new major, the teachers, and my peers. I met Chris in my strength & conditioning class :) I was on track to graduate last spring from EWU with my bachelors degree and it would have been in the 4 year time. However, a huge life changing moment occurred during Christmas break of my Senior year. Yup, I found out I was 5 weeks pregnant. I attempted to proceed with Winter quarter and wow I didn't make it past the third week because I was throwing up morning, noon, and night. I am glad I withdrew because I continued to throw up 24/7 for the next 22 weeks! So basically, I took last year off from school to prepare and focus on the growing baby inside me. It was a very good decision and I don't regret putting school on hold.
After Kaden was born, I started school again when he was 5 weeks old. I don't know what was wrong with me this past fall quarter! Even though I was a new mom and exhausted, I was so happy to be back in school and had so much motivation. I had an awesome quarter and finished on the Dean's list! I also managed to keep breastfeeding with no supplementing! I feel awesome about that.
This last quarter....I think motherhood, stress, exhaustion, and everything got the best of me. With a baby there is barely anytime to study or focus on school outside the classroom. Also my commute to school is about 35-40 minutes so it is really hard to motivate myself to actually go all the way out to class! I barely made it through this quarter but somehow I did.
Now, I am doing my internship, coaching, and taking 2 classes online and then....... I WILL BE DONE WITH COLLEGE (for now at least, I may go to grad school someday...)!!!
I honestly don't know how teen moms do it. If I had just started college or was in high school, I don't think I could go back and finish! This has honestly been incredibly hard. I am grateful that while being in school, my schedule only takes me away from Kaden for 3 to 4 hours Monday-Friday! I am also so grateful to be able to still breastfeed and provide him the best nutrition through all this as well (7 months and counting)! Also, I am thankful that he doesn't have to go to daycare and gets to go to grandma's and be loved on while I am at school/working :)
Getting my Bachelor's degree will be my biggest accomplishment other than being a mom and going through labor! Although I hate school right now, I am glad I stuck with it and hopefully this teaches Kaden to stick to your dreams and goals! Hard work pays off and don't be a quitter! :)
Yes getting my degree is for me, but I strongly believe that it is for Kaden as well and I thank him for being my #1 motivator! The countdown is on. I will walk on June 16th with my amazing boyfriend by my side graduating as well...after June 16th....I really need a vacation!!
I am so blessed to have an awesome boyfriend, a perfect healthy son, a beautiful house, a cute fluffy dog, our education, his wonderful job, and our bright futures! We are doing it all and we are only 24 and 22 years old!!! Yeah baby!!!!
