A Great Moment for my Daughter

Possibly the best feeling I've had in years........ maybe ever. 
This weekend my oldest daughter Rachel graduated from  Tacoma Community College............
I know some are like O.K......................wow............... Community College?


But for her it is far more than just that.............
Rachel's mother and I split up years ago.....12 yrs?.............she was just 15 and caught in the middle,in a bad way.
I have always felt she was short changed in what should have been some fun and memorable years in a teens life.
She was forced to make decisions about things she shouldn't have  had to deal with.............
To keep it short ,she didn't graduate from High School and made some poor choices along the way.........things weren't looking bright.
It was a bummer , she is so intelligent and very sharp............
Well, when she was 20 she made a decision to move ahead in life and get it together.............and boy has she......
She studied up and got her G.E.D.
She enlisted in the National Guard .....................at the whoppppppping size of 5'2" and 90lbs.......made it thru basic no problem and reported to duty back here in the N.W.
Then she got a day job doing retail.........
After a year or 2?...........began taking classes at T.C.C. and U.W. Tacoma
She wanted to be a legal investigator.......so she was studying in the Para Legal Program..................she soon got a daytime job at a small law firm and worked it for a year or so......
She got her para legal certificate early,so she changed to transferable classes in the area of Applied Science.
Then she got a break and landed an entry level investigators position at a large law firm out on the penninsula.......started at $20.00 and hour.
Her new bosses loved her and supported her continued education so she kept chipping away at school.
Anyways............ Saturday... Rachel graduated from Pierce Community College with an "AA" in 'Applied Science" and a "Washington State HS Diploma" and a "Para Legal" certificate
She graduated with "Honors", "International Honor Society", and "Veterans of War Alumni" status.
She also has already done 15 credits towards her bachelor and JR year at U.W. Tacoma
To top it off she got a nice little pay raise upon graduating and is now illegible for the company 401k...

Now the most impressive thing..........she did this all on her own..................I paid nothing...................
She studied up and used every penny the National Guard had to offer and all the grants and scholarships the school had to offer............
Zero money from me and no student loans.........she is free and clear.........

I am beyond proud  and even more amazed at what she has done and become...........

Great Job Rachel...........
I Love You......Dad

Congratulations on a job well done.  You both have every right to be proud. 

Good news, congrats!

Congratulations and good luck to her

Jason that is very very cool!  I am happy for you and your daughter!

Your daughter has accomplished more than any of my children have!  Only 1 of the 4 has post high school education and that was a trade school.

congratulations!!!

I love it when a plan comes together. Good on you for the support and encouragement.

Cool story Zungle!  Good to hear that some people are still willing to make the sacrifices required to get an education. 

zungle


Thanks everyone for checking it out.

Your daughter has accomplished more than any of my children have!  Only 1 of the 4 has post high school education and that was a trade school.

Beagle, Here's more than you may want to know.


My wife(Brenda) and I have 5 kids  between us..............you may or may not  have read by now, we have a complicated mixed family.
(Note.....Brenda my wife and foundation, is the only woman I've been married too )


We have in order .............

Rachel 27..............."AA' working toward BA?....works at large law firm.....lives on her own..........


Josh 22..............Works for me @ PGMI full time..............lives mostly on his own........... Should be shooting higher,very smart....sometime pain in my side...good hearted and polite....he's the one helping me the most while my neck is mending.


Zak 21................Member of Teamsters Union...........cardboard mill...........great job........knock on wood.........lives at home......making darn good money ....needs to start paying up ........ mouthy.........doesn't get it yet.


Seth 20................Works at "Burger King" and attends South Sound Community College full time...this ones costing me some $$....lives at home...............pain in my backside and neck.....................very mouthy.....needs a butt kicking


Abby 13....Ridgeline Middle school.........LOL..............nicestmost helpful  kid in the house


I don't know your kids ages or situation but my boys have alot more growing up to do...........

sounds pretty similar, Jason!
 
Lance - 28..........graduated technical school for Riverboat apprentice, worked on a coal barge system in the Ohio river area for about 2 years, I think.  Got a US Military Medal of Honor for saving a service man's life in the river.  currently training as a Dish Installer.  Living on his own since he was 16.  He's doing the best out of all of them, I'm very proud of him.  still has a temper on him, but he's a good man.
 
Alex - 25...........has his high school diploma from Texas State School.  currently works for Little Ceasars Pizza.  has 2 kids he has limited visitation on.  Love him, but he has a mouth on him.  can't keep it shut and therefore can't keep a job and can't keep his mouth shut to the judge, either.  needs some growing up...
 
Chareece - 22.........my biological neice and adopted daughter.  graduated high school 4 months after she moved out of my house because she didn't want to live under our rules any more.  Doing better now, tho, is a stay at home mom of a beautiful 2 year old girl.  her husband is...."employed" at least and they live under the wings of his mother about 2 hours drive for us.  if she hears about a medical condition, she'll be in the hospital for it.  she has a lot of growing up to do.  but she's doing better than some.
 
Derek - 20....was the sweetest boy ever growing up.  still is very sweet, loving and kind.  but had to leave home a year ago, still has no job, just a habit.  but he called me yesterday to wish me happy father's day!  he'll probably have to hit rock bottom before getting himself up again.
 
I love them all.  but yes, they have some growing up to do still.

Beagle


I hope I didn't share too much...

all friends here mate

Cool story Zungle!  Good to hear that some people are still willing to make the sacrifices required to get an education.

Thanks Craig...............I forgot to mention she did this all while living on her own.......................and going thru a short bad marriage that turned into a quick divorce............


Thank goodness for Rachel she had no kids..............by choice............ she has always been very careful about that.

very likely so, Jason!

Congrats to your daughter Zungle!!! I'm happy for both of you!!
Best of luck for her future!!