I finally completed one task that has been approximately nine years in the making. Those nine years were spent from the time I graduated High School until I finally finished the requirements for Baccalaureate degree. I went to Ohio University, took online classes at CSCC, and finished at Ohio Dominican.

People may ask, how it took nine years to accomplish something many people do in four or five. The short story is money. Of course, there is more to that than just money. I was immature and did not understand the cost of anything. My family loaned itself out to try and give me the experience that I desired. The college years that I think most people want to experience.

It’s something I knew I wanted. I was always unpopular in high school and kept to myself. I wanted to become the life of the party. I wanted to experience the life that everyone else had. Of course, that never happened in Athens and it created a lot of turmoil in my head. I eventually ran through all of the loan money in about a year. It was then, that I moved back home. I was in a funk, and quit going to school. It took about two years for me to get out of it. I continued to work and it was at that time I decided to take a few classes online at Columbus State.

The classes I took were not in preparation for anything more for general learning experience. They interested me. I took a mix of psychology and anthropology. Just classes to engage my mind. There are still some classes I wouldn’t mind taking, some photography and writing classes.

Finally transferred for the last time to Ohio Dominican into the LEAD program. I went to class one night a week, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Took part of tuition reimbursement and finished roughly two years after I started. The LEAD program can be frustrating and wonderful all in the same time.

I am proud that I accomplished something that I set out to do nine years ago. I am relieved that I finished. It is a good feeling.

The ceremony was nice, somewhat long considering we spent it in the sun in the afternoon. It started shortly after 10 and finished around 12. The speaker was from the Society of Jesus. There were probably 400 students graduating in the 87th class. All in all it was a good time.