The path to lemonade, part IV

You'll want to go back and read the previous three posts to this story...

My junior and senior years at Baylor were amazing. My ROTC scholarship, along with my other scholarships, covered 100% of my tuition and fees. The monthly stipend I got from the Air Force covered my rent and utilities. I still worked during breaks and summers and I taught private lessons during the week to help me save money. I was able to take summer school at McLennan Community College and pay for it in cash, as well as buy a car for my last two years at Baylor. My music degree required a minimum of 148 hours (and by minimum, that doesn't include many of the additional classes that were also "required") and ROTC added an additional 16 hours I had to complete that didn't go towards any of my academic requirements (believe me, I tried...). I graduated with 186 credit hours and all but three were needed to graduate from Baylor. It's no wonder it took me five years to complete my degree (and that was without a minor degree).

I hit a kink my 2nd senior year. Even though my ROTC scholarship was a three year scholarship, there was some fine print the cadre at the detachment didn't tell me about (I don't think they fully understood). Since I had completed my ROTC classes, I was no longer eligible for the scholarship. In order to continue to get money (with my particular scholarship), you had to be actively taking an ROTC class and I didn't have any more to take. Most of my other scholarships also ran out after four years. However, I DID get to keep the monthly $200 stipend. Still, I didn't know what I was going to do. I researched more loans and eventually went to my Papa for help. Luckily, I had taken so much summer school so I could coast my 2nd senior year, that I only had 21 hours left. I had 12 hours to take in the Fall and 9 hours (student teaching) in the Spring. My Papa graciously paid a large part of my tuition my last year at Baylor. I don't remember the exact amount and I honestly don't remember what all he paid versus what I paid from my savings, but it magically worked out.

A couple of months after I started student teaching, I got a letter in the mail indicating that I was going to have to start paying back my student loans in May. I graduated in May and was upset that I wasn't getting the six month grace period to start payments. I went to financial aid (I'm sure they knew me by name) and started bawling. They informed me that I wasn't a full-time student and that I was given the six month grace period from December to May. I tried to explain that I was told student teaching WAS full time status. I guess the little old ladies in financial aid felt sorry for me because they extended my grace period another six months.

The debt accumulated the five years I was at Baylor amounted to $10,500...the exact same amount I ended my sophomore year with. It's still difficult for me to comprehend how things fell into place. I know for a fact that it worked out the way it did because God planned it that way. I personally didn't do anything to make it work, rather I truly believe God blessed my path - each and every step of the way - especially those steps that appeared harder and more difficult.

May 18, 2002 I graduated from Baylor with a bachelor of music education and was also commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. My Baylor road was done. Finished. My U.S. Air Force road was about to begin. And I was going to fly! No, I wasn't going to be a pilot or navigator, but an Air Battle Manager.

This is only the first half of the story...just wait until you read the 2nd half!!!