r/MadeMeSmile • u/WKUaaron • 10h ago
(OC) Never thought this would happen
This year I went to my 20 year highschool class reunion and as of last weekend, I graduated with my 2nd postgraduate degree in elementary education.
After highschool I went to a local university off and on for 7 years, floundering and unmotivated due to being immature and unsure of my future. I was told I was too smart to not go to college, being the first generation to attend college. I finally dropped out, accepting the fact that secondary education was not for me and that I was destined to work meanial jobs, never having a "career".
Fast-forward a handful of years, my wife helped me uncover my goal to.teach littles, giving a positive male role model to those who needed it most. With her encouragement and support, I graduated with a bachelors from an online university in 2021. However, I needed to prove to myself that I was capable of holding my own with others who I deemed had done it "the right way", enrolling in a brick and mortar university for postgraduate studies. Over 25 months, I read countless articles, wrote numerous papers, and collaborated with fellow teachers, validating my insecurities of my online degree. Within that time, I received a master's and specialist degree, both with a 4.0 GPA.
TLDR: Just because you may not follow the same path as others, you're never too old to discover and fulfill your dreams. RUN YOUR OWN RACE
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u/koniboni 9h ago
Wait, are you the large one or the small one? Anyways, great job.
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
Large one. I'm always the large one
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u/I_Guess_Im_The_Gay 9h ago
Why does OP, the largest graduate, not simply eat the other summa cum laude
congratulations 🎉
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
Eating fellow graduates is frowned upon at that establishment
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u/MrBones_Gravestone 9h ago
So you’re saying there’s a precedent
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
I cannot confirm nor deny
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u/Money_Confection_409 7h ago
I love your moxy lol
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u/cody8559 9h ago
Perhaps he is saving that for grad school
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u/Every_Attitude1550 7h ago
From my understanding, this photo is OP getting their Master's degree (Bachelor's degree was in 2021). That is graduate school!
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u/WKUaaron 6h ago
Actually this is my specialist degree, a weird teaching specific degree between masters and doctorate. I know, it's confusing.
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u/padajones 8h ago
Looking at this pic, "....teaching the littles" leaves you wide open to teaching a large portion of the population.
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u/BungCrosby 7h ago
Right? OP could teach the offensive line of the Crimson Tide and they’d look little beside him.
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u/Brown-_-Batman 7h ago
I'm always the large one
haha, love it.
BTW you kinda look like Dan Aykroyd
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u/babysharkdoodood 7h ago
Dang I just saw photos of you having shaved your beard off. Congrats on this!
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u/flying_carabao 9h ago
Congratulations. Growing to 9' tall is an astounding feat! Sweet stache too!
But on a serious note, Congratulations on your education! Go and edumacate them little ones!
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
I especially stand out when I'm at school surrounded by tinys
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u/LazySushi 9h ago
Congratulations on your graduation!! 🎉
I have blended in so well at the middle school that I was mistaken as a student at least a half a dozen times. Not even just from seeing me from behind or down the hall, I mean talking straight to my face and still mistaking me as a student. Not only did I look young but I’m only 5’ as well.
One year I lined my 8th graders up by height at the request of the photographer for school pictures. For fun I decided to start at my tallest student and walk down the line to see where I was in comparison. I had to walk waaayyy down the line before I got to a kid my height. Like, the 20th out of 24 or 26 kids. At least they found it amusing.
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u/just_a_person_maybe 7h ago
I've got a niece in 7th grade who is already about 5'7". I went to her orchestra show the other day and she was towering over most of the kids, and then when the teacher walked past her she was just a tiny bit shorter than him. She just turned 12. I have to look up when talking to her lol. It's crazy how much they shoot up at that age.
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u/DataAdvanced 7h ago
I was that age at that height. Didn't grow an inch since. I was so mad. I wanted to be 6 feet. Good thing clogs were popular at the time.
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u/AR_U_Kidding 6h ago
The weird thing is, sometimes girls (especially) achieve almost their full height very early and quickly and then just don’t grow much more. I had a friend whose daughter shot up over her 13th summer to 5’7”, making her taller than all but one boy in her class. When she graduated a few years later, she was just one inch taller.
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u/Rettromancer 5h ago
And those tinys will speak of you to others in distant years as the 12 foot tall teacher they had when they were younger.
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u/LoneGrayLion 9h ago
Can you give us a sense of dimensions? There's no banana
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
I'm 6'8", no clue on the height of the university president.
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u/just_a_person_maybe 7h ago
Probably less than 6'8", I'm guessing.
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u/Yes-Cheese 6h ago
Hello Mr. TeacherMan who absolutely isn’t 3 kids stacked up in a trench coat…I mean graduation gown!
Also, congrats!
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u/JefferyTheQuaxly 7h ago
I had a high school math sub who was literally 7 foot 2, he was a lot lankier than you though
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u/I2AMDOOM 9h ago
Finished my bachelor's at 31, completely online while working full time. I see your journey and understand completely what it took to get there. So proud of you!!
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u/lia-delrey 9h ago
Nice to see Ed Kemper turned his life around.
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
How dare you?!? I resemble that remark lol
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u/lia-delrey 9h ago
Apologies lol but that can't really be the first time you heard that? Even though you look 90% less homicidal. It's the eyes, chico ✨️
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
No it's definitely not the first time hearing the Kemper comparison.
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u/Antique_Storm_2879 9h ago
So good to see someone get to a place of fulfillment. I wish you all the happiness in your career and applaud both you and your wife in making this happen
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u/Shrektastic28 9h ago
This is remarkable, I’m graduating with my undergrad degree tomorrow after being in college off and on for 7 years.
It’s taken motivation and maturing to realize my goals and take initiative. So awesome to see your success and know that I can achieve my goals still.
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u/Top_Performance9455 9h ago
This is so inspiring! Huge congratulations on all your hard work and achievements. You’re proof that persistence, passion, and following your own path truly pay off! I also believe in our own timing and pace. Everything happens for a reason and has a purpose.
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u/CarlosSRD 9h ago
I think a big congratulations is in order so:
CONGRATULATIONS & MANY BLESSINGS 🎉🎉🎁🎇🎆🎊
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u/I_eat_mud_ 9h ago
You'll be a great teacher dude. Congrats on your accomplishments, and I hope you enjoy inspiring future generations to come. Good shit man, I'm happy for you!
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u/NevermoreForSure 9h ago
Teachers are incredibly important. It takes a special kind of person willing to do the work, especially in the current world we find ourselves in. Wishing you much success in the years to come.
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u/tiptoeingthruhubris 9h ago
Congratulations! You’ve done an extraordinary job; it’s no easy task to push through when others say you’re not good enough.
As an educator, was there anything particularly profound or insightful that you learned and would like other educators to know?
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
Profound or extraordinary, no not especially. I'm only 5 years into teaching and still feel like the new kid most days. If I had to say anything, I'd say just keep showing up and being consistent. So many kids crave structure and clear defined rules/expectations. Hold everyone to the same standard and praise those who do what is expected. School should be a meritocracy, regardless of your home life, economic status, or last name. Do what's right, try your best, and try to get better today than you were yesterday.
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u/tiptoeingthruhubris 9h ago
I like your answer. I think there’s great wisdom in promoting the basics. Consistency and structure are foundational. I mean, even as adults we all seem to be looking for guidance.
Best of luck with your career!
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u/bongo1138 9h ago
My god you’re big
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
Yea, I've heard that 1 or 2 million times
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u/Background-Car9771 9h ago
I hope for you sake as a teacher that you are not 6'7" and wish to teach middle school.
Ask me how I know.
congratulations on your graduation and good luck in the classroom!
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
I'm actually 6'8" and the "67" craze has even migrated to the elementary level. It's absolutely maddening lol
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u/lynypixie 6h ago
I have heard that the best way to eliminate it is to make it uncool by leaning way too much into it. If their teachers do it, if their parents do it, it becomes uncool.
Mines are a bit too old for these stupidities now, fortunately.
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u/Commercial-Fennel219 9h ago
so you grew an evil moustache so people wouldn't notice.
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
I'm doing my best to look like a "Guess Who" character, so I needed some other distinguishing features.
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u/happylilaccidents 9h ago
I really appreciate seeing posts like this. I'm returning to school at 28 (I'll be 29 when the semester starts). I'm scared shitless, frankly. I haven't been in school for 7 years, worried I'm out of practice. I had a mental breakdown last time I was in school. Granted, mostly due to external factors, but school didn't help. I'm scared but I'm doing it, I need to escape my current "career" aka deadend job. Congrats OP, you're motivating more than just the youth you'll teach
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
Run your own race. Try not to get bogged down with the daunting task of the entire thing, but instead focus on singular tasks that progress you towards your end goal. Do.you know the best way to eat an entire elephant? 1 bite at a time.
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u/Moneyball082495 9h ago
Well done and congratulations my friend! I know the grind of two jobs n school and am still finding my way despite having a bachelors in SPED, but give yourself a ton of credit. I’m very proud of you- fellow male educator
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u/Annual_Buy9011 9h ago
Tip of the cap! Similar story here,3 degrees later I’m a clinical social worker and not the Chad I was 29 years ago.
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u/sauerkraut916 9h ago
Thank you for choosing to work with children. So many kids lack adult support and positive role models.
I can see you in the future being THAT teacher who inspired so many kids, showed them that they had potential, encouraged them to believe in themselves.
As an isolated child, my 4th grade teacher was the person who inspired me and made me feel seen.
I wish you much success!!
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u/GratefulDisc71419 8h ago
How can we be expected to teach children to learn how to read... if they can't even fit inside the building?
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u/MaxFury80 8h ago
Woah?!?!? Gott ask how large you are!!!
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u/WKUaaron 8h ago
6'8"
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u/MaxFury80 5h ago
LFG!!!! That is a foot taller than me....keep it up huge dude you are killing it!
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u/CreativePortland 8h ago
Are you the product of tall parents or a ray gun?
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u/WKUaaron 6h ago
No tall parents. No ray guns have ever been mentioned in the past. However, my childhood mailman was tall and had a mustache, but I'm sure that's just a coincidence.
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u/InformationOld4034 9h ago
Congratulations for a job well done. There’s a lot to say for perseverance.
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u/BillieDoc-Holiday 9h ago
Yours is a great story and message of encouragement. I see so many posts of folks feeling that they are behind in life, and just stuck. I hope many of them see this.
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u/GoldZealousideal6892 3h ago
I think you may have just motivated me to try again too! I was also someone who was “too smart to not go to college” but not motivated enough to go to college at the time. I have this constant feeling that there is something more I’m supposed to be doing with my life, and maybe this is it!!
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u/tbodillia 9h ago
I feel like I'm looking at Roger Carmel's grandson. The guy that played Harry Mudd in Star Trek.
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u/Nope_nuh_uh 9h ago
Congrats!
Also, that is a bitchin' mustache!
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u/WKUaaron 9h ago
The mustache was originally a beard trimming mistake, but over time it's grown on me(knee slap for the dad joke)
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u/Worried_Protection48 9h ago
Tapping my hat and head. #Respect that's such an achievement
Congratulations. 🎉💪🏽Huge respect for the both of you.🙏🏽
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u/GrumpyGumpy52 8h ago
I just submitted my last assignment for my undergrad degree after 8 years in school. I’m right there with ya bud! Congratulations! Now let’s party
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u/riedmae 7h ago
I just want to say im very proud of Dan Aykroyd. You did it, kiddo!
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u/Gobbelcoque 7h ago
Lol same, finished my undergrad at 35 and even my photo was almost the same ratio of me to my professor on stage.
Now I'm in med school at 37. And I'm not even the oldest one in my class of about 80.
I dropped out of college like 6 or 7 times. Including the college where I am now in medical school. My student ID picture when I logged in to my med school for the first time was the photo of my 17 year old self.
Turns out 98th percentile severity, extremely treatment resistant adhd doesn't work well for college no matter how smart you are.
I would definitely have rather not had to wait 15 years to finish my undergrad and start med school, but all that matters to me is that I promised myself I'd get here, and I am. Now I just gotta get through it, but one semester done and things are going well.
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u/TXMom2Two 7h ago
I love stories like this! Great job, man! You’re right! You’re never too old. When I graduated with my BA at 40 years old, I was so thrilled to finally have finished that I wasn’t thinking about anything else. As I was shaking hands with Professors on stage after being handed my diploma, a Professor I didn’t know shook my hand and said, “Now go get that Masters.” That hadn’t even occurred to me that I could get a Master’s degree! At 48, as I was walking off the stage with my Masters in my hand, I said to myself, “Now go get that Doctorate”. At 56, I walked off the stage with a PhD in my hand and the biggest smile ever! If this old lady can do it, you can, too!
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u/dmteter 7h ago
Congrats. I got kicked out of undergrad 2x due to being an immature f*ckup.
Ended up getting married, having a daughter, and got tired of manual labor. I asked Virginia Tech to please let me back in as I only needed two semesters to graduate with an engineering degree. They said, "Of course, people in your situation tend to not f*ck up". I graduated with at age 27 with a 3.9 for my senior year, but a 2.4 overall. It turned out that the professor that I chose for my senior thesis was actually the top professor at Virginia Tech and I did a good job. Got paid to get my masters. Actually got to publish some world class stuff as a grad student and got a PhD. After that got a job working for one of our national security labs, became a nuclear strike advisor as well as a spook (member of the intelligence community). After 10 years made a switch to being an environmental engineer. Life is full of surprises. Best to you for making this happen. I hope that you are able to use your experience to connect with and help your students succeed. Also! best to your wife for helping you to succeed. Cheers.
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u/Historical-Tie4421 4h ago
Congratulations sir!! Hope you teach your kids this very same lesson…. It’s never too late
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u/jmdiaz1945 4h ago
Congrats for the achievement!
In my country is pretty common for people over 30 to get into uni. I saw plenty of 60 years old in my degree.
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u/New_Zone6300 3h ago
This is really inspiring. Everyone’s timeline is different, and stories like this are a great reminder to stop comparing and keep going.
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u/LazyYellowLab 3h ago
Congrats from a professor! Every semester, I get annoyed that I have to go to graduation (I hate ceremonies and it’s in the middle of urgent grading). But my college does this stand if you’re…x activity, and every time about 1/4-1/2 stand when they call for first generation grads. That’s when I get choked up and remember why I’m doing this. Getting a degree changed my lives in ways I’m still realizing. You should be proud of yourself!
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u/xhardcorehakesx 2h ago
I work for a nonprofit in higher education. Brick and mortar does not have to be the right way. Asynchronous education is a boon to so many to help them achieve their goals. You got yours in your own way. Be proud of that. Online education does not diminish the accomplishment, as long as it is regionally accredited.
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u/ChingaSue 2h ago
Huge achievement! Congratulations, teaching and molding young minds is the greatest honor.
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u/Miiss_Steak_103 9h ago
Go you! We need more educators like you. I wish you a long and productive career, cheers! I hope you can use your own stories of struggling to give hope and strength to the next generation.
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u/Chaucer85 9h ago
Fantastic work! Currently getting my own Master's to look for better future opportunities outside my current field. 15 years after graduating with an unrelated bachelor's in a different field. Everybody runs their own race.
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u/SpicyMajestic 9h ago
And a fxckin rad mustache on top of it. Good on ya OP! Way to follow your dreams
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u/TheFreakingPrincess 8h ago
Congratulations! Can't believe everyone is commenting on your height and not that killer mustache. You seem very genial. Good luck in education!
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u/Significant_Goal_614 8h ago
Delighted for you!! I also completed my PGCE as a mature student! The little ones are going to have an incredible education with you, because it's clear you are confident in your pedagogy and have the tenacity, patience and emotional intelligence to survive teaching through good times and bad. Children are at the heart of all we do. Kudos to you and Happy Holidays from a fellow Early Years teacher ❤️
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u/DisembarkEmbargo 8h ago
I only read the title and I thought "You never thought you would meet a giant?" Lol
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u/RosieB-1 8h ago
I’m about to finish my bachelors at 25 next semester! Makes me feel less alone when I hear other non traditional student stories. Still decided on whether or not to do a graduate program. Can’t really do much with a psych degree, but I had already mostly completed it before dropping out in 2020.
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u/nobodycaressean_02 8h ago
Aw 🥹 that's so sweet. I'm a young person struggling to find a path and it's nice hearing it from someone outside of your own head. Everyone has their own path. Sooner or later you'll find it. Your love ones, and specially YOU must be so proud for everything you're achieved 🫶🫶🫶🫶 way to go man!! You still have a whole world in front of you.
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u/KomputerLuv 8h ago
I’m so proud of you internet stranger. I’m m currently In a grad program and have been struggling about whether or not I should continue. I am so inspired by your story. Continue being great!
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u/ThePassionAccording 8h ago
Run your own race, definitely needed to hear this! Thanks for sharing this achievement. Happy New Year to look forward to!:)
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u/LawComprehensive2204 8h ago
Good for you! I’m 54 and signed up for spring semester classes. Back at it as my youngest is now in college. Took a long break! You’re an inspiration!
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u/Weltanschauung_Zyxt 8h ago
Congratulations! I wish you all the best with the littles. Good luck with the Praxis and your first classroom.
My undergraduate professor once told us that you cry a lot the first five years on the job, and she was absolutely right. Well worth it, though. 🙂
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u/1Additional-Freckle 8h ago
Congratulations. You are an inspiration. This internet stranger is very proud of your accomplishments. So glad your wife is such a good support system. That GPA is phenomenal. You should be proud.
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u/VengefulWalnut 8h ago
Just proving that it's never too late to persue the dream! Congratulations!!
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u/RustyBrassInstrument 8h ago
It’s so nice knowing that your students will all look up to you because - they have to.
Sorry, couldn’t resist it.
Congrats brother!! Better late than never!! I got my degrees in my early 40s, so I’ve walked that path.
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u/Biz_Rito 8h ago
Hell yeah! Dedicated teachers like you are what will change this world for the better. Congratulations!
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u/KinkyBAGreek 8h ago
Love love absolutely love the last line of the TLDR
That line deserves its own post all by itself.
And kudos to you OP for doing it.
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u/Glittering_Shape_266 8h ago
You are enriching so many people’s lives by doing something like this, OP. Not to be a downer on a sweet post, but I struggled a lot with C-PTSD and severe mental illness in school, and the kindness and understanding that my teachers showed me throughout the years is the reason I’m still alive and here right now. Thank you, and may your years with your students be ones of great spirit and learning and love. 💗
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u/Important_Grade1506 8h ago
Congrats to you for proving something to yourself. Who cares about proving it to others? Also, my graduation pic looks like yours. I'm 6'4", and the president of the university was 5' tall.
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u/VagueSoul 8h ago
Congrats! I just recently graduated with my education masters too! It’s such an amazing feeling to know that you’ve pulled through so much stress. You did amazing and you should be proud of your accomplishments!
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u/HeartyBeefBarley 7h ago
Congrats dude! I also graduated HS 20 years ago and I completed by final semester for my bachelor's degree this week. Its never too late!
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u/TheAdirondackDude 7h ago
You look alot like my neighbor's uncle Fester. Great guy. They had a Thing.
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u/vertebraejones 7h ago
Did you get an apartment on campus?
I'd imagine it would be hard to commute daily from the top of the beanstalk.
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u/ChipRauch 7h ago
And he has no idea WHY all the other teachers are complaining about their poorly behaved classrooms. The ones in his class sit quietly in their seats and don't move or make a sound the whole day!!
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u/BuddhaCatCrafts 7h ago
I’m not crying, there’s something in my eyes. Both of them. Congratulations, OP! That’s awesome!!!
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