Done.

It's amazing the power that one little word can have. Just say these three little words to yourself: "I. Am. Done." So many things can be conjured up when this phrase is uttered. Done eating. Done showering. Done running. For me, it means I am done with a chapter in my life that has been almost 12 years in the making.

I graduated with my BA (*snicker, snicker*) in Human Communication on May 20, 2000. I'm a nerd. I have a thing for remembering dates. Names? Not so much. Dates? I'm surprisingly adept. What is "Human Communication"? Basically, it's a fancy schmancy, politically correct, California hippie term for an integrated Humanities degree. I concentrated my studies in Literary and Cultural Studies with an emphasis in 20th Century Multicultural American Literature. Whew! What a mouthful! Bored yet? After graduation, there were only a handful of things that my degree translated to: 1) Absolutely nothing related, 2) Going after my teaching credentials or 3) Keep going in school for a Master's degree. I chose the option behind door #3. I enrolled in Cal State University Sacramento for an MA in English. This would give me a few extra options in the teaching world. I was working full time, so I went to school at night. I took one semester and then life was turned upside down. My newlywed husband joined the Air Force.

We moved to San Antonio and I looked into transferring my degree to University of Texas at San Antonio. By the time I decided to put my application in, I was working full time *and* I found out that I was pregnant with Gavin. Life happened and I put it on hold. I figured that I could go back after I had my son. Whoop! Just kidding! Life happened again and we were reassigned to Okinawa. I finally decided that I would take this school things seriously and look at the different options in Okinawa. I found a great program through OU (University of Oklahoma....Boomer Sooner!) and enrolled. It was for a Master of Public Administration degree. I began my course and then was hired for a full time position on base. Shortly after, I found out that I was pregnant with Lauren. Something had to give. I finished the semester and decided to put it on hold yet again.

Fast forward many moons and another reassignment to Louisiana. The hubs needed his Master's degree to help with promotability. He earned his MAEd (Master of Art in Education) within 18 months. I looked into the program and learned that I qualified for $6000 in financial aid. On top of that, I would earn 2 free course, thus leaving me to only have to pay $3000 out of pocket. I couldn't pass this up. I suddenly felt the need to finish what I had started so long ago. Life in Louisiana was jam packed with adventure. Kids, work, Officer Spouse Club, volunteering and running kept me busy. It was different this time though...I decided to prevail and not give school up. I needed to finish.

This past Saturday, I turned in my final 2 assignments. I. Am. Done. I have completed all of the coursework necessary for my MAEd. I'm happy to be done. I'm happy that I finally finished something that I started oh so many years ago. I'm proud of myself for getting it done and feeling slightly smarter on the other side. Doctorate? Not right now. :)