A Dream Deferred But Achieved!

20 years ago I was 17 years old and ending my summer vacation learning I was pregnant. An emotionally charged decision was made, and I dropped out of high school. All the ideas and notions I had of working in the legal field were put on the back burner to slow cook.

The following year I was giving birth and navigating being a single mom. I eventually returned to school, but deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up was still a little ways off.

In time, I decided to revisit my high school dream of working in law. I knew I would never commit to being an attorney; but legal had my heart. In 2009 I took a litigation support specialist position. In 2012 I received my Legal Secretary Certification. 10 years later, in 2022, I finally completed my Paralegal Certification.

I can’t begin to describe the pure joy I feel. It may not be a big deal to anyone else, but it is to me. After years of deferring a dream, I finally made it come true. And even better? I get to celebrate it alongside my boys who are kindergarten & 8th grade graduates this year and my loving supportive husband.

Throughout this journey, I doubted myself. I cried, I felt overwhelmed, and impostor syndrome showed up like an army. But my prayer game was strong, my husband was right there being my rock and what should’ve taken 1 year to finish was completed in 5 months with a 4.0 GPA.

I struggle with being proud of myself, but this is something I let myself revel in. After completing school in February, I landed a position in a law firm in March. Talk about blessings!

There was a time in my life when I would’ve never allowed myself to feel this joy or even think to document it. But I knew these milestones my boys and I were achieving were too special not to. So when Atlanta Photographer Mike Izenady (MikeIzPhotogtaphy) offered to commemorate our milestones; I knew we had to.

Mike was a pleasure to work with! Friendly, professional, good with the my boys who are both on the spectrum, and above all; he captured the spirit of the occasion perfectly. Grateful to have worked with him and recommend him for your special occasions too!