Alma Mater

As I continue on the 25DOCO journey, I am brought to an ornament that brings back 4 years worth of a large variety of emotions and memories. This ornament is representative of my alma mater and the time I spent in the education department.



I actually have the same ornament in three different colors. It was a gift from a professor that imparted much wisdom, Dr. Thompson. The most memorable quote was, “Go ahead and forgive yourself for all of the mistakes that you’ll make your first year of teaching.” Oh my, did I have those! I’m sure I will continue to have them throughout my teaching career. Teaching, like many other professions, requires MUCH self reflection. Pride and self justification are not good places for a teacher to be. It allows no room for growth.

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This ornament was given at a Christmas party for the club/organization I was involved with. It was MECA, which stands for Mississippi Early Childhood Education. We learned a lot and got to be involved with the elementary schools in our delta community.

Oh, how I miss college! I had grand memories: meeting lifelong friends, growing spiritually, getting the blessing of being involved with FBC Cleveland for 3 years, meeting my husband, learning to stomp him at ping pong, landing my first teaching job, SO many quotable memories, and much picture documentation. There were also many challenging times throughout those 4 years. I learned what healing really meant, and my friends showed me what it meant to bear a burden with you. I had LOTS of car trouble and even said goodbye to my first car. Ha I always had people taking care of me though! Zach broke up with me, and we went 2 1/2 years with no communication. No worries, you guys know how that worked out. Below are just a few pictures of some college memories.
 





























I could keep going. I shall refrain. I think my favorite memories are the ones in which everyone piled into our little duplex for late night studying/projecting. We were all working away into the wee hours of the morning. People would stay until 2-4ish in the morning. The ladies would sometimes just stay and pile into my king size bed. We would be making pots of coffee all through the night/early morning. We might have been more productive had we holed ourselves up to finish our projects, but it was much more fun to be in it together! Don’t wish away your college years, friends. It could very well be some of the sweetest memories of your life!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy