High School Yester Years

As I was driving down the road this morning, on my way to school, I started to think about how I have ended up where I am at now in my life journey. A lot of thoughts were spinning around in my head. I was a pretty good student in high school, I didn't do extraordinarily well and I did not extraordinarily fail. lol. I managed to make mostly A's and B's, had about a 3.8 GPA. Not too shabby right? This June it will be 6 years since I graduated, to many that may seem like just yesterday, but to me it seems like ages ago. I think mostly because of the turn of events in my life. 

High school was a fun time for me. I enjoyed going to school and I enjoyed the social aspects of school. I did JROTC in high school, which is probably the only reason I succeeded as well as I did. We had the best field trips in JROTC as well. Sgt Maj Hartsel was a big influence in my life, and still is. I still go in to update him on my life and to let him know when I have accomplished set goals. He is always advising me in life, finances, and everything else. 

Let’s start with the first major setback in my life. I really wanted to go to Longwood University after graduation, so I applied and went for a tour to try to get early acceptance. Well, the woman was impressed with my application and really wanted to accept me, but I hadn't taken Algebra 2. Ughhhh. My guidance counselor had informed me the year before that Algebra 2 was not a required course, and that most colleges were not looking for that. Well needless to say, I pretty much gave up and started exploring more options. 

I read and researched about Liberty University, went to a weekend session there and thought it would be a good fit for me. I felt like it was my only option. Oh and did I mention that at the time I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. Wow how time and life changes so much in such a short time. I remember being dropped off at college, at first I couldn't wait for my parents to leave, and as soon as they left I wanted them to come back. I got very homesick, and did not enjoy my first semester away from home as much as I hoped that I would. I decided that after that semester, I would return home and take classes at the community college. So second set back, my not so great experience going away to college. 

Once I got home and situated, I had to decide what I was going to do, so I decided to sign up for classes at the community college. At this point in my life, almost a year after graduation, I was unsure of what I wanted to be when I "grow up". I just felt like I was going through the motions of life, taking classes, but not really progressing. That summer, I decided to take Summer classes, and at that point I starting thinking about becoming a nurse. That Summer was also when I meet Riley's "donor" as I tend to call him. (We will get to that story later, I have to build up the suspense right?!?!?!) At this point I feel like it was a monumental turning point in my life, and at the time it was not a good turning point. All of my actions that Summer and Fall, dictated how my life has ended right here today. While I feel like I am in a much better place now and would NEVER change anything that has happened in my life, it is just not the way I "thought" my life would be at this point in my life. 

Stay tuned for more of my life story.....basically.