A Graduation Thank You

Two weeks ago, I graduated two programs:

• University of Waterloo with a Honours Bachelor of Mathematics (Coop) degree 
• Queen's University with Bachelor of Mathematics (teachables in Math and French)

I can honestly say I am proud of myself.  

These degrees were no easy task, as I had to return to full time school while having a 8 month old at home.  I had to leave my baby (and the first few days were SO hard), in hopes that I could later tell them in life that their education is important and worth striving for.  I spent nights up doing my online courses while breastfeeding Peyton.  When I returned to school, I sat in the bathroom stalls pumping milk, as I felt it was important I kept breastfeeding Peyton while I could (and continued to until her second birthday).  I worked full time while finishing my last few terms of school (on top of full time schooling). 

The reasoning I write this- I want my kids to know how much I love them and how hard I worked to ensure I can help provide for them.  I realize University is not an option for everybody (and to that I say just ensure you are doing something you love- whether or not you need schooling for it), but since I was blessed enough to have this option I thought it was very important to take full advantage of that.  

I couldn't do this without my family, my parents, my grandparents and my inlaws who helped make everything manageable.  To my daughter (and soon to be second child), thank you for sharing me these last couple years.  Thank you for giving me something to strive for and a reason to do that.  Thank you for making me smile the moment I got home each night.  To my husband- thank you for putting up with my stressful exam seasons, and my nights up doing homework.  Thank you for taking care of Peyton while I went to school and moving to Kingston with us.  To my parents and inlaws, thank you for letting us live with you both at one time in this journey, for watching Peyton and encouraging me throughout this journey.  To my Grandparents, thank you for the little newsclippings of encouragement you would send me and helping out in every way you could.  THANK YOU to all these wonderful people!