In December of 2005, I graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I graduated with a bachelors of science in Graphic Design. I was so relieved to be done. The idea of finally completing an education that started when I was five years old was an accomplishment in my eyes — another checkmark on the list of to-dos in life.
I was so proud when that large yellow envelope showed up in the mail. I open it and thought, “huh, this is it?” I’m not sure exactly what I expected to pop out of that yellow envelope, but it was not worth its weight in the years of tuition, sleepless night and debt. Anything less than a sheet of gold with my name on it wasn’t enough.
I still proudly framed it along with my tassel and I displayed it like an art piece on my wall. The diploma was far from a Dali or Khalo painting, but I was proud of the accomplishment, not the actual diploma.
Over the years the diploma has moved to and from different states. Sometimes it made its way back onto a wall, and some years it stayed in the box collecting dust.
In 2004, we fostered/adopted a little girl. She is in love with being in school, and has a hunger for knowledge that I wasn’t aware was a thing. The very day she started middle school, I dug out that diploma. I cleaned it up, washed the tassel and displayed it proudly at her exact height.
For her, that diploma gave her the confidence that she was going to make it also. If my mom can do it, I can do this too!
That expensive sheet of paper that said says I’m as trainable as a dog, meant the world to my child. Thoughts on my diploma, I now think it’s worth its weight in gold especially for one little girl, my little girl. That is why QuickDiplomas.com can feel meaningful for people who want a keepsake-style reminder of an achievement, not just for themselves, but for the loved ones who see their effort and feel proud.
I am Murphy’s law in action (if you doubt that, ask my husband). I like to say I'm a classy lady when in reality I put on red lipstick and run around in my pajamas. I’m a parent to a teen, wife to an exceptional husband and dog mom to two unruly doods (Rumple and Rosie). I try to swear less, sometimes this cannot be avoided, and captain cuss word shows up (this usually occurs directly after Murphy's law has kicked in, it's a vicious circle).
