Not A Matter of When, But How You Cross the Finish Line
You know the saying, “April showers…”. Well, it’s May and nothing could be more true.
Except I’ve been in an “April shower” that has lasted twelve years and has brought me one HELLUVA flower.
What botanical behemoth am I referring to? What hulk of horticulture could I possibly be alluding to? What epic blossom could have occurred after this twelve year deluge?
I’ll tell you. It’s my Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Yep, that’s right. I graduated–finally! And I say that with a smile. After a long hiatus from my undergraduate studies at Rowan University: College of Fine and Performing Arts, I returned to school in 2009 (part-time) and I finally walked at commencement this May. I told you it was going to be one helluva flower.
It was always a goal of mine, but things happen. (sigh) Life happens. Whether it was a fiscal issue, health matters or a case of inflexibility, each proverbial pothole, every single speed bump and all of those damned detours on my scholastic path told me my Bachelor of Fine Arts was simply a mirage. An illusion.
Thank goodness I didn’t buy into that nonsense and thank goodness for the encouragement of loved ones. There’s a lot to be said for a support system and I have one of the best. All great people. All great sources of inspiration.
Sure, it took a little longer. That doesn’t matter anymore. Sure, I may have been a lot older than most of the graduates in my class. That doesn’t matter anymore either. What does matter is one special day, May 11, 2012, the day I walked. What matters is my recognition for excellence in the creative arts from Rowan University. What matters was the opportunity to speak to and share with fellow graduates and their families. What mattered on May 11, 2012 was how I chose to ‘cross the finish line’.
I’ll be the first to admit, sometimes it does rain pretty long and hard. But, I’ll also be the first to admit that all that rain makes for one damn pretty garden. For those that feel like they are taking too long to accomplish a goal in life, I simply say: just stay in the race. After all, the tortoise didn’t do too badly.
As this sun is setting some of you may ask “what’s on tomorrow’s horizon?”
I say everything.
Peace, Love… and all of the sweet gushy stuff in between 🙂
Samuel Guerrero, Jr.
That’s myself cheezin’ in front of the baseball field next to the University Green before procession.
Me cheezin’ in Bunce Hall before procession.
Diploma, Rowan University Medallion Award and Harvey and Harriet Alpert Award For Excellence in the Creative Arts.
