college graduate!

I'm so pleased to finally announce CJ's college graduation!

As many of you know, CJ was a semester shy of completing his bachelor's degree (Pre-Med and English) when he pursued other opportunities -- receiving his associate's degree in paramedic science, becoming a paramedic then firefighter, getting married, etc.  At this time, he doesn't have any plans to actively use the degree; it was more of something to cross off his life's to do list.

Last semester was tough and somewhat of a hassle.  His classes weren't difficult, but he had to arrange for time trades and had to use his vacation days for school instead of for an actual vacation.  I don't even want to think about the money he spent on gas driving to and from Terre Haute last semester.  Because ISU didn't offer the one class he needed to finish up last semester, he enrolled in an online class that turned out to be more difficult than his in-person classes.  The online class wasn't exactly budget-friendly either.

After all of that, we found out a few weeks ago that CJ didn't graduate after all.  He applied for graduation and had met all academic requirements.  When he transferred his online class in -- the day before Thanksgiving -- it was sent to the wrong office.  (Since when do transferred credits go to the admissions office instead of the registrar's office anyway?)  The paperwork was transferred to the correct office before Christmas, and then it seems it sat on someone's desk and wasn't processed in time to meet graduation deadilnes.  CJ tried to argue his point, but to no avail.  Talk about disappointing.

Then last Friday, there was his diploma in our mailbox!  I don't know what happened or why he was told he would have to reapply for graduation, but we really don't care.  I realize it's just a piece of paper, but he worked really hard for that degree and I'm just so proud of him.

What's up next?  CJ plans to enroll in Ivy Tech's paramedic to RN crossover program.  The program begins in August and will last approximately a year, so he'll finish up school a few months after I graduate.  Then maybe we'll get back to that newlywed phase where we just sat around on our nights off and didn't study.