JAVELINA PRIDE

Today my husband and I made a trip out to Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK).  We had several things on our to do list, and we got most of it accomplished.  House hunting was a bust.  Finding a place to live is frustrating and stressful.  In Kingsville, the nicer, newer apartments are income-based, while the ones we could rent (that we inquired about) had no vacancies.  Finding a rental home is worse.  Daycare for the little ones is another challenge.  Most childcare centers only open part-time, either a few days a week, or for only a few hours a day.  The center on campus has a 2.5 year waiting period....my program is 2 years (God-willing).

I briefly met with the director of my grad program in the morning, but he had a class and we decided to meet in the afternoon instead.  I spoke with someone at financial aid in the morning and also changed my name with the registrar (they had me listed as one of my previous aliases).  I bought my first Javelina shirt at the bookstore.  We took a break from school related activities and had lunch with my grandmother, who happened to be in town pre-registering for surgery.  After lunch we went back to campus so that I could meet with the director.  I was permitted into my courses.  Yay!

The most memorable part of my day, besides being able to share it with my husband, was a special feeling I got while walking around campus getting things done.  My husband attended TAMUK, so it was nice to know that we are sharing an experience.  That's not it though.  I felt a sense of pride being on campus...you see, my grandmother was a high school drop out.  She quit school to get married, as was not uncommon back in the day.  After a few years of staying home, she decided she wanted more; she wanted an education.  She got her GED, and proceeded to get her bachelors and then her masters.... at, of all places, TAMUK!!!

It's all so surreal, but with each thing crossed off my list, it definitely gets more real.  I am nervous and excited for school to start, and dreading the actual process of moving.  I believe in me, my husband believes in me, the director seemed intent on getting me through as quickly as possible (which means he believes I can, based on my academic history).  We are making some sacrifices, and I would hate for it all to be for nothing.  Failure is not an option!