With class registration for my winter quarter being completed last week I couldn't help but think how far I've come. I am almost done my four years at Savannah College of Art and Design; I am almost ready to take the next step further into adulthood. I started to think about graduation, how in a few months I will be walking across the stage to receive a diploma that I worked my butt off to receive. But I couldn't help thinking that there are two people who may deserve my diploma more than I do. Following are four reasons why my amazing, supportive parents actually deserve a lot of credit for my success.
1. College isn't free.
Financial aid, meal plans, rent, utilities, money on my college card, money for supplies—they have definitely completely paid for my education and for that I am forever grateful. However, I am also talking about the money they have given me for things other than school. Gas money so I can drive around, money so I can join my friends for a spring break vacation, $20 so I can go see a movie, etc. My parents made sure I had the funds to get an education and enjoy my college years at the same time.
2. They shared in my stress.
I remember one night during finals my computer crashed, I lost a whole final project that was due the following morning. Instantly, I was frantic. At 2 a.m. I called my mother absolutely beside myself, so frantic that I'm pretty sure I scared her. Problems, heartbreaks, brain blocks, good news, bad news, questions—Mom and Dad got them all. And they not only had to share in my college meltdowns, they would go to the end of the earth to help me or make me feel better. Whatever I went through in college, my parents also went through twelve hours away.
3. They were my biggest cheerleaders.
Almost every project I have completed for school my parents have seen. Every paper I have written has been emailed to my father, some more than once. My parents always responded with criticism; they gave me complete honesty and helped shape and build me as a designer. My parents celebrated every victory, no matter how small.
4. They forced me to grow.
I ended up in a school twelve hours away from my hometown. Yes, I did want to come to SCAD, but towards the end of the summer I got cold feet. I remember telling my mom and her response being, "You need to go out and see the world." My parents had bigger dreams for me than I had for myself at the time. My parents believed in me so much that all I wanted for the last four years was to make them proud—and hopefully I have done just that.
