Today’s prompt:
What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
This is kind of a hard question to answer. I think it might be because society tells us not to brag. But this isn’t bragging, it’s answering a direct question, right?
1. Getting in to BYU. Now, I realize that BYU isn’t like Harvard–getting in to BYU doesn’t necessarily mean I was stellar in any particular way. However, I am proud that during my junior year of high school, I looked into the early-admittance program at BYU, decided to apply, arranged to take the ACT in Honduras (not many people take it there), scored really well on the test, and was admitted to BYU with a one-year academic scholarship. I never did end up getting a high school diploma. I did all of this when I was 16. My mom still talks about how she was amazed at how I was so self-motivated and accomplished almost all of this on my own–the research, the testing, the application. So, I’m pretty proud of that.
2. Getting my M.A. in English. I’m proud of myself for taking my degree one step further and pursuing my masters degree. During that time, I taught English classes at BYU, worked as a research assistant for one of my professors, arranged academic conferences, wrote my thesis, and had two children (I was 9 months pregnant with Calder when I graduated). Those were busy years! But I did it and I’m very glad that I did.
3. Giving birth. Giving birth is hard work! I’ve had a lovely birth with an epidural in the hospital, a difficult but empowering birth without pain meds in the hospital, a magical and transformative water birth at a birth center, and a very difficult water birth at a different birth center that ended with my baby being rushed off to the NICU. Each time, I drew strength from within myself and showed myself just how powerful my body is. And each time I had the opportunity to lean on Bryce and draw closer to him as he provided anchoring support. Those were amazing times.
4. Marrying Bryce. That probably sounds silly, but, truly, I think it is quite an accomplishment to recognize a connection with someone, dedicate time and energy to getting to know and understand that person, and then commit to spending eternity with that person. I’m pretty proud of my 18 year-old self for asking Bryce out, realizing that he was wonderful and a great match for me, having the wisdom to date him long enough to really get to know him, and then for making the choice to be sealed to him in the temple when I was 19. I never thought I would get married so young, but I’m proud of myself for moving forward with what I felt to be right (even when I was so young and hadn’t yet finished my bachelors degree). We make a great team and I’m so glad to have him in my life. It’s been 10 years since that decision and I’d say things are turning out rather nicely.
5. Doula Training. Finally, I’m proud of myself for training to become a doula. This work has nothing to do with my English background, requires training that takes me away from my children, and asks me to do a lot of studying on my own. But I’m proud of myself for pursuing something that I’ve been interested in for a very long time (when I started at BYU, I was actually planning on becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife), even though it involves risks and lots of time. I know being a doula will be difficult (crazy hours, emotionally draining, etc.), but I also know that it is something that I will be good at, that will allow me to be a positive force for local birthing families, and that will bring me a lot of satisfaction.
There are other things I’m proud of having accomplished–running that 10K race in 2012, making those crazy stockings for my kids, going vegan for a couple months–but I think those five are some of the bigger ones.
