A free cup of Coffee

I arrived two hours early, before my last exam, to look around campus and have something to eat and a cup of coffee.
I went to the opposite side of campus and found Gabby the lovely coffee lady, who I have known and spoken to since I start my first degree 6 years ago. Of all the faces to come and go, I guess she is the one that was there for the whole six years.
I told her it was my last day, and she shouted me a cup of my favourite coffee.
Alpine (white chocolate).
Either an alpine iced coffee, or an alpine cappacino.
One time when I went to order an alpine cappacino I was so TIRED and couldnt seem to get words out right and ordered an al-pacino.
My brother found this pretty funny.

Today

My last ever exam is today and I want to pass.
I want to pass to stick it to all those who thought that I wouldnt graduate from primary school let alone a masters degree.
If I pass this exam I have done a two year degree, in which there is a 40% drop out rate.
It'll stick it to those who said I couldn't. The nerve of pulling me aside and telling me to see a Dr before I continued on with my degree and "got myself in too deep and wasted my time."
Prehistoric hicks. They tell me this after one day of me OBSERVING them. Watching me, watching them.
Mental cases with no boundaries. Or clearly had not studied up on the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992. Back in their years Integrated Case management or Professional Issues must not have been subjects.
It makes me so mad just thinking about how I was treated.
Anyhow, I'll have to rant about the double standards and such once I have finished. I really need to study two approaches to dysarthria therapy.
Yay.

And it all comes down to this

Hello,
There is one last exam left to go.
The video exam.
I am terrified and am in so much pain that it is not funny.
I cannot see myself passing this exam.
It's not because I see myself failing it, but if I pass it then that is it. I'm out of UQ and into the workplace.
I really should study but my neck and back will not stop yelling at me in pain.
I'll let you know how it all goes.

Rhys's Grand-Ma

Rhys's Grand-Ma died on Friday.
Suddenly in comparison to his Grand-dad.
I not so secretly believe that they needed each other and find the idea of passing away within a couple of months of your other half... romantic? Lacking a better word.
I think its nice to know two strong and intelligent people still needed someone else.
Maybe its the wedding planning that gets us thinking like this, because his grand-ma also smoked like a chimney and her lungs gave out.
No I still believe that after the death of his Grand-dad she just 'gave up.'
So Rhys is going back to Tully, to say good bye to the other half of his paternal grand parents.

Breaks my heart that I have two exams next week, because I want to be there for him.

Selfish note: It makes me miss my Aunty Joan, who passed away early December 2007, sometimes its so easy to forget that she isn't in Melbourne, waiting for our next visit. She'd be so proud that I am about to graduate, again.

Note: A library named after Ri's Grand-ma.
http://www.libraries.slq.qld.gov.au/home/services/cassowary_coast/dorothy_jones_library

"I'm passing you"

My CE told me yesterday morning that I have passed my final clinical placement. I just could not believe it. I was so happy/relieved that I burst into tears and even managed to get my CE teary. It just means SO much to me. Completing this degree in two years when 'normal' students drop out for a year, or drop subjects because the workload is so demanding, the idea that I could do this and they could not, is crazy for me.
I was pulled aside at my first clinical observation and told by a really unethical Speechie that I should have "seen a dr before starting my degree and should think about seeing someone before I got myself in to deep and wasted my time."
Now I will have her degree. Well sort of, she did the undergrad, so I'll have the masters version of her degree.

I shouldnt get ahead of myself, I have a report to write, a group thesis to work on (going great guns girls) and two exams to pass...

Yikes. Thats it?

Then I'm done at UQ?

Year number 24, Sept 2007-2008

So I am 24 years old now.
And what a waste of a year!
Well no not really, I guess I was doing my masters and Rhys did ask me to marry him.

Side note: I am so over people saying "Its about time", we were 19/20 when we started dating and 22/23 when he proposed, we were young, we are still young and thats why I insisted on a 2 year + engagement.

Anyway, the big things of my 24th year:

I guess it could be said that Ri and I only started living together "full time" in my 24th year, as prior to that he was on site 11 days of a fortnight.

I had an afternoon at the Regatta, after our final exam of 07, that resulted in me not being able to drink white wine since. *shutters*

We went to Melbourne and I experience my first O'D christmas. The most Christmas-y people on the planet.

Rhys asked me to marry him - twice.

I got to pick a diamond ring from Tiffany's.

We looked at many beautiful reception venues before deciding on the most perfect place for us and our history as UQ students.

I went to a wedding on the 08/08/08.

My father had heart problems and was in hospital for a while.

I was in a car accident and my neck still fricking cains.

I had two fantastic clinical placements and two that I could easily have lived without.

I did a full 180 on my career path. Adults, out. Children with disabilities, in.

I figured out that I do want to have children one day. Just not for a few years, think 2014.

My best friend told me she was pregnant, and is expecting a girl in Feb.

So I'm one month into year number 25, and it is scary. It looks like I am going to graduate this year. I know that is why I started this blog, but I cannot believe it.
Next week is our last week of classes, our thesis is due and clinic comes to an end.

I am going to cry, UQ has been a part of my identity for the past six years. It would have been interesting to have kept a blog during that whole time.

I said to mum the other day:
"I did pretty good from UQ, I got two degrees, one useful and a future husband, not bad at all"

Last Month

In one month. I have my last exam.
Next week: Community Ed is due
The week after: thesis is due
Clinic finishes.
One week of swotvac and then two exams one on 4th of November the other on the 6th...