Pray Eat Slay

There are moments in life that feel bigger than the accomplishment itself. This week, I experienced one of those moments.

I officially graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology with a concentration in Web Development and finished with a 3.9218 GPA.

When I look at that number, I am proud. But when I look at the journey, I am amazed.

My college journey started in 2007. If someone had told the younger version of me that it would take nineteen years to complete my bachelor’s degree, I probably would have laughed. Life had other plans.

Over those nineteen years, I became a Soldier. I deployed. I moved across countries and continents. I became a mother. I raised a daughter. I cared for family members. I worked long hours. I balanced military responsibilities, school assignments, and everyday life.

There were semesters when I could only take one class. There were times when school had to take a backseat to life. There were moments when giving up would have been easier than continuing.

But I never completely stopped.

One of the things people don’t always see is what happens behind the scenes. Degrees aren’t earned only in classrooms. They’re earned during lunch breaks, after long workdays, on weekends, and sometimes even on vacation.

I still remember sitting in Sanremo, Italy, completing a quiz before I could officially start my vacation. Most people probably would have waited. I couldn’t. I knew every assignment mattered because every assignment was another step toward the finish line.

Over the years, there were countless late nights spent writing papers while daughter slept. There were discussions completed from hotel rooms, airports, and military installations. There were moments when I questioned whether I was doing enough, moving fast enough, or if I would ever reach the end.

The answer was yes.

Not because the journey was easy, but because I kept going.

Three years ago, I earned my Associate Degree in Computer Technology with a 3.80 GPA. This year, I completed my bachelor’s degree with a 3.9218 GPA. That growth represents more than improved grades. It represents confidence, discipline, maturity, and a commitment to never stop investing in myself.

As women, mothers, Soldiers, and caregivers, we often put ourselves last. We spend so much time making sure everyone else is taken care of that our own goals get pushed aside. This degree is a reminder that our dreams still matter.

Sometimes progress is slow.

Sometimes it takes nineteen years.

Sometimes success looks like refusing to quit.

Today, I am celebrating this milestone. Not because I was the smartest person in the room, but because I stayed the course.

To anyone currently working toward a goal that feels impossible, keep going. Your timeline does not have to look like anyone else’s. Life is not a race. Progress is progress.

Nineteen years later, I can finally say it:

I did it.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m allowing myself to pause and enjoy the accomplishment before chasing the next dream.

Until next time,

Dana…