For a moment I will reflect on where I come from a pat on the back to cheer me up since I am melancholy.
6 years ago today-I lived in a house where the walls were falling in with huge areas of water damage and the paint was peeling off of the ceilings. There were giant piles of raccoon feces in the attic that would leach down the walls when it rained heavy. There was no heat in the house so it would be freezing at night and damp. The kitchen had no cupboards and the floor was ripped up linoleum. I did not know how I was going to afford food for dinner or lunch the next day. I lived with someone who threatened to kill me if I ever left and he kept a rifle by the bed every night. I worked at a wildlife center a job which I loved but it had no retirement, no real paycheck (it was paid under the table) and a maniac boss who would constantly berate me. I could not pay my bills or buy anything really. The prospect of the future was bleak as I could not find a good job. I had no health care so I always hoped I would not get sick and when I did I just dealt with it.

I was trained as an artist but always felt lacking since I could not work and had no direction for my work. So I believed that I had to let go of that dream entirely and do something practical.

So wonder no more why I worked so hard to do my best, why I would not complain when I was just beat tired and worked anyway. Why I loved every minute of having the opportunity to earn my MFA and reach to a dream I will never surrender again. I have earned today with a damn lot of hard work and the road to get here was long. When I believe in something I set my sights on it and I do not let go, I walk towards it, sometimes run, sometimes crawl but I get there. So when I walked across that stage today I set my sights on where I need to go from here. Yet celebrate with me because I have completely changed my life in 6 years and will do so again.