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Today!
I’m truly at a loss for words on how special today was for me. My full testimony would be way too much to write.
But I will say this:
To have my family-my children, husband, parents, see me graduate from college today was everything.
I didn’t have a high school graduation because I became a mother five days after my 17th birthday.
I was in the 11th grade. I didn’t go back for my senior year because life was “lifing.” But that’s a story/testimony for another day.
I knew it was meant for me to be a nurse when I was 23 years old. Probably earlier than that. But without the knowledge, wisdom and support to make it happen, I gave up on that dream.
I figured that ship had sailed and I was “too old” for college. But with my husband’s support and encouragement, I took a risk and began to dream again. Maybe I could really do it this time. Maybe I could finally succeed.
So, scared and unsure, I decided to try one more time. That was September 2020. The height of COVID.
I cannot count the number of late nights, all-nighters or early mornings.
The countless hours spent studying, turning down invites, time spent away from my family and friends . . .
The buckets of tears cried when a test didn’t go well.
The sheer exhaustion from the past four years.
However, God indeed redeemed the time
And today, I proudly walked across the stage with my husband, mom, children and granddaughter cheering me on Them being proud of me means so much.
Damia S. Causey, a former jobs and careers columnist for NNS, graduated Sunday at MATC, completing her journey to become a registered nurse.
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