Rat Race...

Before April 19^, 2013, I had no idea how a single email could alter my entire universe. That day was exactly two weeks before the big day, graduation. As I woke up from a nap, I checked my emails as I always do, to find an extremely breathtaking message. The email read, “Lacresha, I am sorry to inform you, but you will not be participating in the spring 2013 commencement exercises. After carefully evaluating your senior record, we found you to be one credit short of the required courses. We encourage you to plan your schedule around the summer or fall graduation dates.” My heart sunk so low into my stomach that I thought I wouldn't be able to take another breath. That day taught me that some things you can’t prepare for, you must simply react. As the weekend minutes slowly ticked away, I felt more and more overwhelmed. This was a problem that I began to think could not be resolved. Finally when Monday arrive, I uninvited everyone to the pity party that I’d been hosting, and got my act together. I refocused and marched around that campus as if I was on a never ending scavenger hunt, determined to find a minimester that would eliminate this fret of not graduating on time. After hearing the infamous word “NO” enough times to be granted membership into the rejection club, I couldn't have felt more defeated. It was in the fifth hour when a complete stranger from whom to me she owed nothing, reached out to me, offering to give me admission into her Career Development course. It was a bittersweet moment, because instead of basking in my closing chapter and celebrating our end with my friends, I was knee deep in a semester worth of course work and an extra bill tacked on. Literally one hour before the close of business the day before graduation, I raced through the halls of the business department, with just enough time to hand in my work and pay for the course. I had triumphed. That day was more victorious for me than the actual graduation itself. I had overcome a challenge that I never thought I’d face. My character and a certain level of resiliency had developed in me. Although this may seem relatively small, I know that it changed me.