Graduation, 2013: An Ode to Mercer University

UPDATE: Bah! Can’t believe I didn’t credit the two specific people who convinced me to attend Mercer again: Mark Vanderhoek and Sybil Keesbury. Thank you both so much….

That should have been me, several years ago. But as I have learned life has its twists and turns. Hopefully, it will be me this fall- I do say hopefully because as I just demonstrated…. Life most generally needs a caveat when attempting to plan.

I have been a Mercerian on and off ever since I enrolled some 13 years ago, in 2001. In reality, I will be a Mercerian for the rest of my life, and I was one before I drew my first breath. My grandfather attended Mercer, and my mother did her Master’s studies at Mercer. Being a Mercerian means so much more than simply attending school. I have a greater appreciation for this as I finish the undergraduate studies I started so long ago, now as a night student. To think- if it weren’t for the efforts of friends who convinced me to at least try to attend Mercer again, I would be graduating from another school’s online program. And then I could not feel I could officially claim to be part of this ever-growing university. Also, if it were not for the efforts of advisors and professors, I would not (so far at least) be graduating this fall.

Sure, it’s been hard. I thought it was hard the first go-around as an undergrad and while it was, it just isn’t the same as it is now. I am thirty years old. I work full time at a very demanding job. But importantly than that, I am a mother to two young children- and single at that. Throw in various civic obligations (Junior League, Alpha Delta Pi Alum, Historic Macon Young Patron, Macon Arts Alliance committee member) along with my burgeoning blog (www.makeitworkmolly.com) and freelancing columns (Southern Style and the Dining Guide in The Telegraph)…. It’s damn hard to believe I have pulled off my best GPA at Mercer ever with nothing but A’s and B’s since re-enrolling.

The above paragraph makes me sound like super women, but I am far from it. In fact I am so barely holding it together it isn’t funny. But I have always said, what is worth doing will be hard. Thankfully, I am a Mercerian, and being a part of this unique community means that you have an incredible web of support around you. When I first decided I wanted to write for the Cluster, I’m sure some would have thought me to be insane. Why would I, a published freelancer with a busy career, want to be a student newspaper editor?  When the CCJ first formed, I was working at a local broadcast news station, perhaps you have heard of 13WMAZ? I was so jealous of those who got to participate in this grand venture. Then I became friends with Tim and Leila Regan-Porter, Dr. Jay Black, Harold Goodridge, Meg Donahue, and many others who are a part of this community. And I knew even more that I had to be a part of it. Fortunately, Drs. Black and Silver understood my desire and also encouraged me. You see, we are never too old to learn. And I am proud to say, I was awarded an editor’s position with The Cluster, the student run newspaper. I know I will learn a lot here and I am so grateful for the chance. And to be honest, while I may be 30 years old with kids and a career- I don’t have it all figured out yet. I don’t necessarily know what I want to be when I “grow up”. But I do know- that being a Mercerian- with all this support around me- will allow me to be the BEST me I can be.