D is for Degree

As in diploma, and education, not Fahrenheit or Centigrade, and the cold temperatures so many are feeling around the country this month.

I am a keen believer in education. I have promoted such as worth investing in, and, once acquired, can never be taken from a person. Cars, houses, furniture, all things that loans are taken out on, but all things that can be lost, wear out, and may need replacing. Not so with one’s education. While it is useful and needful to remain well read and up to date in one’s particular field, it is not something that can be ‘repossessed’.

I told my girls that while they may choose to not use their education, live very modestly, staying home with children, or whatever, if they had an education, they could make that choice. Without an education, that choice was made for them.

Interesting facts about my degree (…if you care to biggify to read closer the details...)

The name is no longer correct. I chose to take back my unmarried name with the dee-vorce. Now I have another married name, but I have kept my unmarried name as part of my full name. It was something I chose to not let go. (Interestingly note: Wonderful Guy's first name and my unmarried name is the same.)

The degree was conferred at the culmination of my return to schooling, after my children were birthed. Therefore, the date does not reflect my age as one going to college right after high school, and attaining a degree in four or five years.

My degree is a BA, Bachelors of Arts, in Chemistry. Dearest Sister gets no end of amusement from that. She calls me The Artiste. The reason? I picked up enough language hours to get a minor in French, and that threw me into the Arts category, rather than Science. I remember enough French to order 'vin blanc'.

Haven’t heard of the school? Not to worry. It’s a very small school in central Kentucky. We were there for the X to finish his undergrad, and continue to seminary. I was able to complete my unfinished educational pursuits at that time, for which I am grateful, even if they weren’t terrible well funded in the math/science dept. I was one of three to five students in all the upper division classes, and the only woman. On the up side,there was alot of personal attention with that low student/teacher ratio! It was an interesting experience, all the way around.

This degree, while modest in comparison to some, has provided me with the ability to earn an interesting and adequate living. I was very thankful for that when I was on my own.

Thanks for reading.