After 14 years, my school journey is finally over.

I’m not exaggerating about the 14 years. I started college, first time in my life, at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, in 2011. In 2013 I transfered to the University of Oklahoma (I actually was enrolled at both schools for a semester or two, finishing up gen ed stuff). In 2019 I completed undergrad with a BA in anthropology (archaeology focus). I had two years off during which we were dealing with a pandemic, and then I started grad school, pursuing two degrees, in 2021. Two weeks ago, I graduated with a Master’s in both Library and Information Science and Museum Studies.

Y’all, it was a LOT of work.

I really hadn’t let the amount of work it was sink in, like…ever. I think if I’d ever sat down and envisioned it prior to doing it, I’d have given up and quit, thinking I could never manage it. The only way I made it through with a shred of sanity in tact was to focus on the classes I was currently taking and absolutely nothing else. I always felt that I was getting off easy not having to write a thesis but the volume of what I did write throughout the five years honestly probably equals a thesis. It was when I started assembling my end-of-program portfolio (upon which my degree hinged) that I really realized the scope and breadth of what I’d produced during that time.

Oh, and, incidentally, I finished grad school with a 3.63 GPA. That’s redemption enough for the kid who graduated high school with a 2.14. I always knew I wasn’t stupid.

As for my processing of the situation, I’m still not really grasping that I’m truly finished. Once in a while I’m like, oh, damn. I’m done done. But mostly my brain is in waiting mode, expecting to return to studies after summer, like usual. Maybe when it’s fall and I’m not starting classes is when reality will really kick in. Or maybe when I get my big girl job. Who knows, with me?

I mean to write more in this blog. Now that I don’t have school work to devote all of my brain power to, I’m finding I have the capacity for other things I’d long neglected. Also, I have basically abandoned microblogging sites (Twitter, Threads, etc.) and I keep having these thoughts and nowhere to put them. Then I thought, well, how about the website and domain you are paying for every year? What a concept.