I DID IT!!! I'M 56 YEARS OLD AND I GRADUATED WITH A MASTERS!!!

IT FEELS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE, BUT WITH A
REALITY SHOW SIDE TO IT.
27 YEARS AGO I FLUNKED OUT OF COLLEGE BECAUSE OF POOR
GRADES AND BY NOT OFICIALLY WITHDRAWING FROM SCHOOL.
I SECRETELY WONDERED IF I WASN'T REALLY RETARDED. I WAS
PROFOUNDLY DEPRESSED AND SUICIDAL. I LIVED AND BREATHED
SUICIDAL IDEATION NIGHT AND DAY. I SOUGHT RELIEF, WITH
THESE THOUGHTS, FROM THE AGONIZING PAIN FROM MY CHILDHOOD.
I SOUGHT OUT A SUICIDE HOTLINE AND WITH INCOMPETENT
GUIDANCE, I WENT FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE (HE USED
THE TIME TO REASSURE HIS OWN HETEROSEXUALITY.)
AFTER YEARS OF RECOVERY WORK, I FINALLY GRADUATED FROM
COLLEGE IN 1999 WITH MUCH SUPPORT FROM MY WIFE AND
DAUGHTERS. I DECIDED TO RISK GOING FOR A DREAM AND
BECOMING AN ART THERAPIST. I MISSED THE DEADLINES FOR
SOME OF THE LESS EXPENSIVE SCHOOLS. I DECIDED TO TRY THE
CADALLAC OF ART SCHOOLS EVEN THOUGH TO DO SO WAS SILLY
BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD IT ANYWAY AND THEY REALLY
SHOULDN'T WANT ME. I HAD 3 HOURS BEFORE I WOULD MISS
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION. A FEW WEEKS LATER I RECIEVED
TWO LETTERS. I SET THE LETTERS ON THE SOFA TO GET SOME
COFFEE TO BRACE MYSELF FOR THE BAD NEWS. I FINALLY OPENED
THE FIRST LETTER AND SPENT 2-3 MINUTES LOOKING FOR THE WORD
"NOT" IN FRONT OF THE WORD ACCEPTED AND COULD NOT FIND IT. I WAS NUMB.
I WENT FOR THE SECOND LETTER AND IT WAS A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.
I WAS INCREDIBLY EXCITED BUT DEEP IN MY GUT I SUSPECTED THEY
HAD MADE A GRAVE MISTAKE ACCEPTING ME. DONT THEY KNOW I'M
REALLY STUPID? I WAS IN FULL CRISIS. I SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE
SELF-IDENTIFIED AS A CHRONIC UNDERACHIEVER.
I'M NOW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE 2-YEAR PROGRAM.
I HAVE MONITORED AND CARED FOR THE ADOLESCENT BOY IN ME
WELL ENOUGH TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A GRADUATE
PRORAM. ( I STILL WAIT FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP).
I FEEL LIKE I'VE REACHED OZ AND THE EMERALD CITY. THE WIZARD HAS OFFICIALLY
PROCLAIMED ME AN INTELLECT AS OF LAST MAY.
I HAVE CLAIMED MY OWN COURAGE BY USING MY OWN STORY AS A CASE STUDY FOR MY THESIS. I KNOW I HAVE A HEART. I CLAIMED THAT A WHILE BACK.

------- BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELVES
----------------- RJD
--------- PLEASE WISH ME WELL

RJD,

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You should be proud of yourself! It's amazing what survivors can do if they put their minds to it! You are proof of that!
We are all VERY proud of you!

God Bless,

Brian

RJD

CONGRAT!!!!!! This is very encouraging because I am back in college also. What a great idea to use yourself as your thesis!!!

CONGRATS AGAIN!!

Terry

RJD
Great news ,it just shows you what we can do if we have the mind to and support behide us. So many times we just give up before we even get started.
The outside world can,t look inside us and see all the pain we have, so to most we are normal. A full ride from the top school show just how good you are.
It is great
how the sprits above have moved, and brings us together.
RJD I can use your help. I have just begun my next mission in life and need your expert to move it forward.
Teach the children to never hid in the silence, is what it's all about. Read my post from around June 7. I need artist to help create poster that can be put up in schools and playgrounds and where ever kid are to remind them to come forward and tell on those that abuse. I work in printing and know how to get this project onto paper but need help on the creative side. I have also been thinking about seeing if we could put it on the computers in the classrooms as an sign in screen,
The ART is the main element in all this. Look forward to talking with you about this.
Muldoon

RJD,

Awesome dude!!! Congrats to ya!

John

RJD
I'm so inspired by what you have achieved, so many of us reach middle age ( I hate saying that ) in the same frame of mind, believing our underachieving is deep and permanent, it isn't.
It's a by product of our history and you've proved that.
Well done.
Lloydy

that is wonderful, a lot of hard work too!!!!
congradulations.

Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!

You should be very proud of yourself. I am proud of and inspired by your accomplishment.

Peace and best wishes

Congratulations RJD:

You have accomplished a great thing and I and others are proud of you! You have shown what a survivor can do when he/she gives their all. God bless.

rafael

YOU ROCK....Rock on RJD