How I Got Here
A Journey to the Grad Stage
Degree from LCCC earned: Communications and Creative Arts. Focus: Music and Art
I remember 10 years ago. I had just started community college in Cheyenne with a partial music scholarship that I had auditioned for and received. I was so excited; it was my first time in college and I’m doing the thing I loved. I had just gotten my GED and I was looking forward to being an official college student. I imagined sitting around drinking coffee and talking about our favorite music, but it wasn’t what I expected. I was shy, and it was hard to make friends. I started in the spring and didn’t really know anyone. Because of my abandonment issues and fear of rejection I took the silence as a hatred for me and cried pretty frequently alone in the bathroom begging my parents to take me home. I believe they came almost every day to bring me lunch and reassure me that I was okay.
Then Fall came and I got to know people a little better but with more people came more drama and with my personality disorder it caused high amounts of interpersonal stress. I usually went home and isolated or avoided people in general. I stayed a couple semesters doing well in my music classes and poorly in all my other main courses and eventually the stress got too much, and my depression came back ten fold and I returned the hospital.
I spent years going in and out of hospitals, treatment centers, and sober livings. Trying to gain skills to lead a normal life again. I even moved around a lot for treatment going to California, Utah, Chicago, and Colorado. Then after Colorado I came home and after a year or more of outpatient treatment, I returned to Laramie County Community College. I was very nervous knowing how much drama there was the last time I was there, but something seemed to change. Staff reached out to help me with my learning disability, the whole program at LCCC seemed different, and it seemed like it was taking a good turn.
I was so excited to go back to school I joined a club called International Ambassadors Club which is a study abroad group. I was the president of community services and did a lot of fun activities. In Spring 2020 we planned to go to Peru and the rest you can figure out. I was disappointed to say the least, but I just kept moving on.
Fall 2021 came and I found out I had only one year left. “I thought I was going to be here forever” I told my advisor. I was almost there. In Spring 2022 I applied for University of Wyoming, and I got in! I was so beyond ecstatic. Then life took a turn, and I had a DVT and pulmonary embolism. I had many clots in my lungs and stayed at the hospital a few days to recover. “Am I going to graduate?” “Will I survive this?” I cried out but again I didn’t let it stop me and I continued my homework and kept going.
Then it finally came. Spring 2022 Commencement. I graduated! I even got to graduate with the exact people I wanted to. I loved seeing my fellow classmates wearing their cap and gown and was so excited to walk down that stage with them. Now I am off to University of Wyoming. LCCC has been a rocky ride and I know nothing is perfect, but I am excited to see what adventures Laramie brings me.
Anything is possible when you have the determination to overcome hardships and focus on success. Off to UW where I will be studying English Literature and Digital Media! Can’t wait to wear my brown and gold.
Thank you so much and congrats class of 2022!
Annie
Special Thanks to:
Michael Shay
Chris Shay
Leif Swanson
Daniel Maw
Jesse Seiden
Ian Caldon
Adrianna true
Heather Morrow
Wendy Soto
Joe Schaffer
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