Never Give Up

I've been up since like 4:30 this morning and I seriously don't know why. 

So I waste time on social media and in the meantime I check my Timehop. 

Well, this pretty little gem showed up. 

My sweet and hard working momma graduated from college 9 years ago today. 

So, in honor of her I thought I'd share some of her story. 

My mom graduated from Prairie View A&M with a degree in Criminal Justice and Child Psychology. 

I swear I say it better than I do my own degree. 

That's because I've had plenty of practice bragging on her. 

My mom attended college for 15+ years, single mom of two kids(one being my wild ass) and working full time. 

Originally my mom was a hairdresser. 

When her and my dad were married she did hair at a local salon growing up. 

When they divorced she knew she had to make steadier money and of course have insurance for herself and what not. 

So my mom went to work as a CO(Correctional Officer) as we've heard that term so many times growing up.  

She was working in Huntsville and going to school at Sam Houston State as well. 

I remember her telling us she'd go to work, then sleep in her car until it was time to go to class. 

I was young and didn't quite understand it all but looking back now it's just one of then many reasons I respect the hell out of her.  

Anyway while she worked in Huntsville for a while she took classes maybe only 1 or 2 classes at a time. 

So you can imagine how long it was going take her at that rate. 

I remember at one point when she was at Blinn, she had a night class and one night she had a test and couldn't find anyone to watch me. 

So, I went with her. 

I remember being so annoyed I had to go take a college test(little did I know I would have that same feeling years later), LOL! 

When I walked in her professer gave her the test and my mom apologized for having to bring me. 

I remember the professor telling my mom it wasn't a problem at all and asked if I wanted to take the test too!

My eyes lit up! 

A real college test! (haha)

So I got a scantron and the professor showed me how to bubble my answers in. 

I'm pretty sure I made an A that day. 

And honestly I know my mom was happy something had my attention because let's be honest, if I got bored I would've started talking and we all know how that goes, no stopping me there! 😉

Anyway, my mom stayed at it. 

Whether she was working at a unit in Navasota or Huntsville, she was attending one of the local colleges. 

When she scored a really good job at Prairie View working in their Registrar's office, I remember her telling us she was going to go take classes there as well. 

Of course, mom being who she was, made friends everywhere. 

She came home one day telling me she met the softball coach and told him all about me and how she was going to get me on that team. 

Well, she did, and maybe I had a little hand in it myself,  but how cool, I'd be going to the same college my mom was too!

Well, my freshman year I would tell professors who my mom was because I knew they knew her and if she was one of their students then I knew they knew how good of a student she was and to cut me some slack. Haha. 

I mean, it was Freshman year, so you know how that goes! 

Anyway, my mom had finally completely enough hours to receive her degree. 

That year she graduated with her long awaited but very well deserved Bachelor's degree. 

I remember when she got her Associates at Blinn and how proud she was. 

My grandma was there and I was wearing this awkward dress with my ugly short haircut too, but that doesn't matter. 

Unfortunately when mom graduated with her Bachelors my grandma had just passed away a month prior. 

I know how much my mom wanted her mom to be there for that day but we all know she was there in spirit 

I was 19 the day my mom graduated from college.  

19!

It took my mom over 15 years to graduate. 

I think at some point it wasn't about "that badass job" she knew she would get once graduating. 

I think it was about her accomplishing a personal goal of hers, her wanting to make her daughters proud of her,(which we already were, how could we not have been), and her wanting to prove to those who didn't believe in her, wrong. 

My mom was a badass. 

And she never gave up. 

We struggled financially, she had health issues, heck she even had multiple knee replacements but still she NEVER GAVE UP!!!

I mean heck, the day she passed, she still didn't give up. 

Her body was just shutting down... but believe me when I say she did still didn't give up. (You know what I mean for those of you who were there.)

Whether you're dealing with school stuff, life problems, or just a bad day in general...don't give up. 

Jsut when you think you've had enough, or when you just don't think you can take anymore.... that's when something great happens!

The end is just that much sweeter when you get there. 

This one's for you momma!

Until next time.