I enrolled in the IWU online adult education program soon after the unexpected death of my sister, two weeks before her own wedding. Her death encouraged me to dust off my bucket list, the first item being, “complete your bachelor’s degree.”
I was a newly single mother of very active 9 and 12 year old daughters and worked full time. As much as I enjoyed an IWU education with a biblical perspective, it took time management skills on an entirely new level to ensure I could balance my job responsibilities and be a present parent while completing my coursework. Although my family and my director were very supportive, I burned the midnight oil many nights to complete my coursework. Without the flexibility of online classes, it would have been impossible to complete my degree.
In my junior year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I continued my coursework and took time off from two courses in my degree path to have surgery and complete treatments. Coursework helped take my mind off my illness, and made me feel like a normal person. Today, I’m blessed to say that I am cancer free.
Through this, I learned that I can accomplish anything. As long as I have faith and keep showing up, God will do the rest. Resilience is sometimes just keeping up with “normal” tasks even when you’re fighting for your life. When difficulty arises, I remind myself of all God allowed me to accomplish while fighting cancer. It has strengthened my faith and galvanized my resolve.
Aside from the birth of my children and remarriage in October 2015, graduation day was the most important day of my life! I decorated the top of my cap with a pink ribbon, and the word survivor. As I walked across the stage, I heard professors behind me saying, “She’s a survivor, praise God!” I smiled, praising God that I was an inspiration to others to keep showing up in spite of any obstacles one might face.
After graduation, I raided the bookstore, purchasing all kinds of IWU gear, including a license plate cover, tank tops to work out in, and alumni coffee mug. My family also gifted me a frame for my diploma. I also have an IWU Indiana license plate. I want the world to know I accomplished this and that I am a proud Wildcat!
My career evolved after graduation, making me eligible for positions I otherwise would not have been without a bachelor’s degree. I learned it’s never too late to set a new goal and work to achieve it. I gained the knowledge and tools needed to contribute to my field with confidence.
I plan to join a nonprofit organization and use my skills to educate women in my community about breast cancer prevention this year. More importantly is my witness to my daughters, who saw their mom burning the midnight oil. Now 18 and 20, they’ve shared how much I demonstrated the importance of hard work and that nothing worth having comes easy. Living this kind of witness in front of my daughters means everything to me.
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