A New Thought - I am an MBA Grad #mba #classof2020

Entering the Marist Campus (2020)

Last weekend I was supposed to walk across the stage (again) as I completed my Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA).  But, with everything going on, the Commencement ceremony was postponed.  Normally I work on Commencement day, even when I was graduating, because there was always a rehearsal I had to attend since I also work Commencement ceremonies.  But this year, I took the day off.  My friends and family worked to make the day a good one anyway.  My bosses sent me flowers.  My sister and brother-in-law let me pick dinner and they paid for it.  My sister had a sign made that we put on the front lawn.  And my sister also arranged a "card shower" with family, friends, and friends who are like family sending stuff to her that she put in a nice box that looked like a graduation cap.  Though I couldn't walk across the stage and receive that nice folder that the diploma would sit in, it was a great day.

But I also wanted to take some time to reflect on the past couple years.  I made the decision to return to school for a 3rd Master's Degree because it seemed like it would be a great boost to my resume and help me progress in my job prospects.  While I would never say that learning is easy, even after you do something multiple times, I had thought that I would be able to fare better since I had been through online Master's courses before.  It was one of the hardest things I have done.

I had a concentration in Ethical Leadership, but before I got to be able to take those classes, I had to go through all the other required classes.  Classes like the 21st Century Manager and Analytics Bootcamp were interesting and though required, I enjoyed them.  Classes like Economics, Finance, and Accounting were required and really challenged my brain.  Operations Management overall was interesting, but I struggled with the work because I had a hard time correlating the concepts to how we were finding those numbers using Excel.

I had to learn how to juggle two classes sometimes, which I hadn't had to do before.  My previous two programs you took 2 classes a semester (fall and spring), but one was the first 8 weeks and the other was the 2nd 8 weeks.  This program, except for my last semester, included both an 8 week course (usually at the end of the semester) and a 15 week course.  Time management skills were put to the test and for someone who worked in technology, I still found using a physical planner helped keep my academic life straight (though it didn't always help my non-academic life).

I learned so much from my fellow classmates, many of whom had more experience in things than I did.  I can only hope that they were able to learn a bit from me.  I worked with some great groups, whether we got to pick our groups or were assigned groups.  In my entire graduate career, I have been blessed with the groups I have been a part of.  And for the first time, I even got to share a class with some students that worked with me as one of my electives was an elective in the programs they were taking.

Though I have taken all my courses for Master's degrees online, there has always been an on-site part for me.  Whether it was being able to stay late at work to complete a quiz or assignment, sit in a lounge to read my text, or even print out an article that I could read offline later.  When COVID-19 hit and we had to vacate campus, those things I took for granted were no longer available to me.  I could still work late on assignments, but I was restricted to my laptop screen in my room with a window and dog distraction.  I could print from home, but I didn't like to because at the same time my niece was in school and needed to have things printed for her work - which is more important than my need for a physical piece of paper to read something.  And I had to find time to do my reading, mostly on weekends because that was the only quiet time I had.

Even though I didn't get to walk across a stage in a cap and gown in front of my classmates and other Class of 2020 students receiving their degrees, it does not take away the work I completed, the lessons I learned, and the friends I made along the way.  My transcript said I completed the program 100%.  It was a tough journey for me, but one I feel was worth it.

Merging is a New Journey - When Memories Hit You

Candles lit during an Ash Wednesday Service

If you asked me to choose one photo that was my favorite during my time at Wappingers UMC, I would have a very hard time choosing one.  I have so many.  Some I have taken.  Some others have taken.  Sometimes I'm in the picture.  Sometimes someone else is in the picture.  Sometimes a saint who has gone on has been in the picture.  And sometimes, no one is in the picture, like above.

As part of the closing service, which at this point I think will never happen, I was working on a slide show or short video of photos that I had been given, were found around the church, or that I had personally.  With everything being postponed, it gave me more time to refine the video, work with music, and some other things.

Today I watched the semi-finished product.

I was at first afraid of not being able to hold it together through the entire almost 8-minute thing.  But, as I watched it, I found it wasn't so bad.

Until I got to some of the true memories.  All those fun times.  Fun meals.  Beautiful sanctuary pictures.  The great photos with people who have gone Home to Heaven.  And I lost it a bit.

And that was just what was on my little laptop screen after working for the day!

Even though we are in very strange and tough times, those memories will still remain.  Even though we will no longer be worshipping in the familiar space and will be making new friends, those memories will remain.  Even if I didn't have pictures of them, those memories will remain.  And I think that is the lesson that I learned today.  Yes, there are times when the memories hit you.  But they will be there.  Always.  But they shouldn't keep us from moving forward with whatever path God has for us ahead.  And we will make new memories.  Not to replace the old ones but to add to them.