About 10 1/2 years ago, we lived in Preston, Idaho and were managing apartment buildings. Matt was registered for his first semester of college at Idaho State University. We layed in bed talking about the adventures ahead of us and Matt cried like a kindergartener, as he thought about starting his first day of college. (As a matter of fact, our two oldest kids didn't cry like he did when they started kindergarten...they were way too excited!) He was nervous because it had been so long since he had graduated from High School, a whole 5 years previous!
The story is much more involved than that really, he didn't have much self-confidence in regards to his ability to learn. He didn't do well in High School and received very poor grades. He felt smart in other ways, just not "book smart." He applied for Utah State University and Idaho State University and was rejected from both schools. ISU allowed him to petition if he could come up with a valid reason as to why he had such terrible grades. He wrote a letter explaining that his home life was difficult in his high school years, and that his concern was just to make it through school, while most of his effort was focused on working to help provide financially for his family. (What an honorable desire, I thought!) He was accepted to ISU on conditions that he take some Study Skills classes his first semester to help him learn to study. We even sat together at a counselor's desk, where she condescendingly told him that he needed to spend the summer reading the newspaper and writing some letters. She apparently felt that he was a little uneducated and helpless in that area. I have in my character, the ability to be a little over-protective and it was all I could do, not to reach over that desk and slap that lady right across the face! (Deep breath.....the emotions are starting to come back to me.) I wanted to tell that lady, that Matt had just returned home from a 2 year mission, where he wrote in a journal daily, wrote letters home weekly, and spent several hours a day, reading & studying the scriptures! He was NOT uneducated! Somehow, I bit my lip, left her office and went home with Matt. We were still newly-weds, so Matt must have had some of his gentleness still overshadowing me at that point...my ornery-ness has crept back through over the years.
Anyway, Matt spent one semester at ISU and did very well. We then decided to move to Arizona, because they had a good Architecture program, which is what he wanted to be when he "grew up"...at least in the beginning, and we needed to spend some time around Matt's family. He applied to Arizona State University and was rejected...this was becoming a regular occurance, but it didn't get Matt down. He decided to go to Mesa Community College, a two year school, and fill out an application. When he turned it in, he asked the lady how long it would be until he heard if he was accepted. She gave him a very funny look and said, "You are already accepted." He was dumbfounded and said, "Do you accept everyone who breaths?" I thought we would die laughing the whole way home. He was so excited to be accepted into college again!
He went to MCC for a few years, while working full time and serving in his different church callings. At one point he was the Young Men's President in the Countryside Park Ward. He would work with these young men as they would prepare to serve missions. Then they would serve missions, and then he would run into them at MCC after they returned home from their missions. He would always
laugh and feel like an idiot that he was taking so long!
At MCC, Matt changed his degree to Civil Engineering and pursued that course for a few years. At one point though, he came home and told me that as much as he enjoyed Civil Engineering, the Art Department was calling to him. He said that every time he passed by the building, he felt drawn to go inside. He has been passionate about art since he was in Kindergarten, and he wouldn't be content until he took a step further. I agreed to let him change his degree course for one final time. The Lord softened my heart and helped me realize that if it was Matt's responsibility to provide for our family, then I needed to allow him to do that in the way that he wanted. So, off he went...into the Art Department.
Later, he transferred to ASU, where his grades really began to soar. At one point he had a 4.08 GPA. It was obvious that he was very talented in that area. With his Civil Engineering job opening up an office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we decided to move to New Mexico where he then transferred to
University of New Mexico and finally graduated.
So here we are, 10 1/2 years, with 4 kids, owning our 2nd home, living in our 3rd state and having moved 4 times throughout our college adventure. It may not sound like much, but being the wife and biggest cheerleader while trudging through the rain and mud of the experience, it was an exhausting adventure. One I am thrilled to have successfully completed! We are so very grateful to be finished with this chapter of our lives!
Matt received his BAFA magna cum laude
with a 3.68 GPA.
Here is our very own Graduate! The pictures were pretty bad in that big arena...but at least it is a good remembrance and proof to us that it really did happen!
We took all four kids, both grandma's, a couple aunts, an uncle and several cousins with us to witness the event. Seven kids, 8 and under, in the stands during a 2 hour graduation ceremony, was an adventure within itself. Mason hanging over the metal balcony and making everyone around us extremely nervous, was just one the exciting events. Anyway, they were all there to cheer on their dad and applaud his success!
Matt's proud Mother and Sister. Polly, a great mother support! And Krystal needs to be thanked for everything she did to help him while he was at ASU. She works there and gave him endless insight throughout many years. Her day of graduation is coming soon and we are proud of her also!
Matt made me hold his Diploma case with him, because I supported him in earning it. I know that someday he will help me hold mine up also. I have my Associates Degree and hope to get a Bachelor's Degree some time when my motherly responsibilities are more willing to share the workload. I am proud of my Man!
And the other four cheerleaders who really sacrificed a lot during those times while daddy worked and studied. Matt's goal was to complete college before Carter started Kindergarten, but it didn't quite work out then. His next goal was to graduate before Carter was baptized...and well...Carter will be baptized tomorrow December 19th! This generation knows the importance of gaining an education at whatever sacrifice and cost. These four are what kept Matt pushing through the "mud" to get it done! Aren't those beautiful faces worth it? We think so!
What a great adventure!
...And it continues into January 2010...
Upcoming events:
Matt will start his MBA at University of Phoenix...just when we thought it was over!
He will be done in 16 months or so.
Uncle Travis will graduate in May 2010 from NAU. Congratulations Travis! Hope you got a good "feel" of being a graduate in this UNM robe! :)
Congratulations Matt!
We are soooooo Proud of You!
