LU Senior Reflection: Aja Rowland

"By the grace of God, support from my husband, good grade celebrations with my daughter and prayers from family... I DID IT!!!"

I am a mother of a senior in high school! I turned 40 this year! I am graduating with my master's degree! Obtaining my degree online was a challenge, however, it made my goal attainable. I wanted to beat my daughter out of school, getting my degree in December and she will be getting her diploma in May. I have had late nights on the computer, early mornings listening to audio books and getting papers submitted at 11:59 p.m. on the dot. By the grace of God, support from my husband, good grade celebrations with my daughter and prayers from family... I DID IT!!!

Running through HEB to get sauce then drive home to finish dinner as I listen intently, on my headphones, while participating on a webinar has been a normal Thursday evening! My cohort was amazing and so supportive, even outside of LU! Dr. Shannon McFarlin, Dr. Valerie Handley, and Dr. Wendy Greenidge have helped me get to this point with motivation, instruction, correction and dedication to watch me win. If it weren't for these influential minds at Lamar University, I know I would not have pushed myself and finished as quickly as I did. I will show them and prove to myself that it can be done. 

I will continue to get my practice hours and work as a counselor to help young people heal. After a year or two, I will open my own thriving private, practice for therapy and hopefully watch my daughter get her bachelor's degree. My advice for future Cardinals? If you want it, put the work in and go get it. It won't be easy, but it is possible.

-Aja Rowland, Psychology and Counseling