It's about to get cheesy up in here...and really long...so bear with me!
I found out I was going to become a mom when I was 17 years old. 17. My "normal" teenage life came to an abrupt halt, to say the least. I was on dance team, and cheer team, had the best group of girlfriends, and a boyfriend that I adored (even though he went to a rival high school). ;)
I started my senior year of high school at a large 7 months pregnant. I had an overwhelming amount of people offer (force) their opinion of what my life plan should be: "You won't graduate high school", "You can't go to college", "Aren't you going to get married?", "You probably won't ever be able to support a child." EVERYONE had an opinion. I quickly learned who I could really trust and who my real friends were.
At first, I let all these opinions get to me. I had accepted defeat and decided I probably would never be able to get through college and get a degree, and would settle for finding a good full time job, and making things work from there.
Then Landon was born. October 10, 2008, 9:20 AM.
One look at this little ball of joy and my mind was changed. I was not going to let people and their opinions of what they thought my life should look like get to me. I was not going to let other people determine our life story. I deserved better, HE deserved better. I was determined to make the best life possible for this lil man-no matter how hard or how long it took.
I applied to college, graduated high school, and began my college journey that fall. I decided on a major, and that I wanted to become an occupational therapist. I worked hard, juggling life as a young mom, college student, employee working two part time jobs, college dance and cheer team, daughter, friend, and girlfriend. I thought to myself-I am doing this, and nothing can get in my way.
I found out I was going to become a mom when I was 17 years old. 17. My "normal" teenage life came to an abrupt halt, to say the least. I was on dance team, and cheer team, had the best group of girlfriends, and a boyfriend that I adored (even though he went to a rival high school). ;)
I started my senior year of high school at a large 7 months pregnant. I had an overwhelming amount of people offer (force) their opinion of what my life plan should be: "You won't graduate high school", "You can't go to college", "Aren't you going to get married?", "You probably won't ever be able to support a child." EVERYONE had an opinion. I quickly learned who I could really trust and who my real friends were.
At first, I let all these opinions get to me. I had accepted defeat and decided I probably would never be able to get through college and get a degree, and would settle for finding a good full time job, and making things work from there.
Then Landon was born. October 10, 2008, 9:20 AM.
One look at this little ball of joy and my mind was changed. I was not going to let people and their opinions of what they thought my life should look like get to me. I was not going to let other people determine our life story. I deserved better, HE deserved better. I was determined to make the best life possible for this lil man-no matter how hard or how long it took.
I applied to college, graduated high school, and began my college journey that fall. I decided on a major, and that I wanted to become an occupational therapist. I worked hard, juggling life as a young mom, college student, employee working two part time jobs, college dance and cheer team, daughter, friend, and girlfriend. I thought to myself-I am doing this, and nothing can get in my way.
Boy-was I wrong. I applied to OT school and was devastated to find out I was not accepted. I found myself right back in the place I promised myself I would never go back too. Catching myself thinking, "They were all right, I will never be able to achieve anything".
With the help of my family, friends, and advisor, I decided to wait and apply again the next year. In the meantime, I took enough classes to add two minors to my bachelor's degree. I applied a second time- and was accepted!! One feat down, many to go.
OT school brought many challenges, sweat, tears, friends, laughs, memories, long nights, early mornings, exams, notecards, mental breakdowns, and lots of new knowledge.
May 2015, I graduated with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. After that, I completed 6 months of fieldwork, and after 2-3 months of studying....took the biggest exam I will ever take.
With the help of my family, friends, and advisor, I decided to wait and apply again the next year. In the meantime, I took enough classes to add two minors to my bachelor's degree. I applied a second time- and was accepted!! One feat down, many to go.
OT school brought many challenges, sweat, tears, friends, laughs, memories, long nights, early mornings, exams, notecards, mental breakdowns, and lots of new knowledge.
May 2015, I graduated with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. After that, I completed 6 months of fieldwork, and after 2-3 months of studying....took the biggest exam I will ever take.
On Friday, I received the best news of my life since October 10, 2008:
I PASSED MY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BOARDS!!!
I am now Emma Forderhase, OTR.
For real. I did it.
I did it, even when so many people were telling me I couldn't. I did it even though (what seemed like) all the odds were against me.
So time to cue the cheese of this massive cheeseball blog: DO NOT EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN/CAN'T DO.
Be hard headed, be determined, set goals, reach them. I didn't do all of this for myself, I did it for him. For the not-so-little-man that calls me mom. He doesn't know it, but he is the exact reason I worked so hard to achieve this accomplishment.
And on Friday morning when I read that little 6-letter word on my computer screen: PASSED, that little boy started crying. He was THAT happy for me. He hugged me and cried. "I'm never going to stop hugging you, mom."
And that, that moment, is why everything was worth it. Why I didn't give up.
I am not writing this to brag, or to say, "Look at me! I'm awesome! Praise me!". I'm writing it to say never give up. Good old fashioned hard work pays off. Do it! Do what you want-it feels so good in the end to know YOU did it.
Okay-that's enough cheese to fill the pool in my backyard of the dream house that Cory and I will build one day. (See-I'm still reaching for the stars.) ;)
I PASSED MY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BOARDS!!!
I am now Emma Forderhase, OTR.
For real. I did it.
I did it, even when so many people were telling me I couldn't. I did it even though (what seemed like) all the odds were against me.
So time to cue the cheese of this massive cheeseball blog: DO NOT EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN/CAN'T DO.
Be hard headed, be determined, set goals, reach them. I didn't do all of this for myself, I did it for him. For the not-so-little-man that calls me mom. He doesn't know it, but he is the exact reason I worked so hard to achieve this accomplishment.
And on Friday morning when I read that little 6-letter word on my computer screen: PASSED, that little boy started crying. He was THAT happy for me. He hugged me and cried. "I'm never going to stop hugging you, mom."
And that, that moment, is why everything was worth it. Why I didn't give up.
I am not writing this to brag, or to say, "Look at me! I'm awesome! Praise me!". I'm writing it to say never give up. Good old fashioned hard work pays off. Do it! Do what you want-it feels so good in the end to know YOU did it.
Okay-that's enough cheese to fill the pool in my backyard of the dream house that Cory and I will build one day. (See-I'm still reaching for the stars.) ;)
Happy Monday!!
-Emma