It's been a minute...👀

Hey Mama! How’s it going?!

Happy New Year to you! It’s just February(Black History Month) we can still say HNY too, right? I’m thinking yes. Well, at least until mid February! (crickets….right?..) 

So, where have I been and what’s up with ‘The Different Mama Blog’? Huh? Guess what though! Yo' girl aka mama friend, Graduuuuaaaattttedddd! 🙌🏾🎉🎓

Yep!

 I received my bachelor’s degree in Nursing! I can’t even lie, God did that, for real! I remember this only being a dream for me, but now it’s a reality! Wow God, you did hear that prayer! You really did work it out for my good! Wow!

Photo by: Shot by K. Marie

You wanna read the plot twist!! 👀

Okay here we go…

There was an email that tried to steal my joy!😏 I mean it tried to rob me! Well truth is, it did! But..only for a little while! 🙌🏾

💡Mama tip: But = is a coordinating conjunction; used to connect ideas that contrast (thanks google!)  The email came to steal my joy, BUT…(keep reading!)

Okay so it read, “Dear Whitney, The Office of the Registrar has completed PRELIMINARY academic honors grade point average calculations for Fall 2024 graduates. Although your current grade point average is 3.50 or higher, when we add in your college level work attempted at ALL previous schools, your cumulative GPA falls below the accepted level for graduating with honors.”

My initial reaction was a hard sigh. I was at work. I really did not have much time to sit in it, but after work the reality remained the same…I was not graduating with honors. 

A few thoughts ran rampant in my head:

“I’ve been working my butt off!”

“Maybe I should ask for a re-evaluation!”

“I just knew I was getting an honors cord.”

Mind you, this email was delivered mid October, I didn’t graduate until December. I still had 3 classes to pass! There was still work to do! I remember telling my sister about it. I told her, you see what happens when you do just enough to just get by? It ends up catching up with you in the long run. I was barely getting by through college earlier in life, now here I am almost at the finish line, about to graduate and my past finally caught up with me! GRATEFUL TO GOD I DIDN’T STAY THERE!

I knew the day would come, when I’d share this with you- my tribe. It’s been cooking for a while, just coming to peace with it though. So, I wrote a letter to my five year old self…

Headed to kindergarten in 1991

Dear Whitney,

You are telling the truth! When you grow up you will be a nurse. (Not to mention, a good one too! 😉) Your first attempt won’t be a success. Your second won’t either. Guess what though? Listen to the older version of you when I say, Dust yourself off, “then try again!” You’ll be glad you listened because you’ll become that nurse this time! Congratulations, LPN! 🎉

Practical Nursing Pinning Ceremony December 2013

Your passion and purpose will continue to grow and you won’t stop there! You’ll find an LPN to RN program just right for you, but you’ll have to travel for this one. No worries, God has you. He’ll be with you every step of the way. You’ll meet another road block though, a class that you’ll have to repeat. This class will put YOUR timeline off a little bit, because you’ll have more than school to focus on. You’ll have a family that needs you. Not only will they need you, you’ll need them too. Let them help you. They want this for you. They’re proud and excited for you. Congratulations though, you completed your associates degree in nursing, now let’s take the state boards!

Virtual - Associate's Nursing Pinning Ceremony December 2020

You didn’t pass your RN state board test! You’ll definitely be sad and a little discouraged for a moment. No worries though, you’ll pick yourself back up again. You’ll change up some things. God will even send an angel/ a friend to pray and fast with you before your second try. You’ll be ready the next time. Congratulations, RN! 🎉

You will start telling yourself, “My bachelor’s degree is really close now, maybe I should go back to school or at least try.” This year will be one of your toughest years, but you’ll still find your way. You’ll try to quit, but God will send another angel to hold you up. Whitney always remember, what’s for you is for you. You are a mighty Faith warrior.

Congratulations, BSN, RN!🎉 You did it.

Proverbs 19:21

Grad cap by: @neii__ (Thanks, Sis!)

Mama what’s one of your God stories? You know that one you had to let go and let God. I invite you to write a letter to your younger self. What would you tell her? Grab your journal, Sis… Dear you.

Thanks for hearing my heart today, my only request is that you hear your own. From your mama friend, You got this, but most of all he got you.

With Pace & Grace,

Whit