CAP AND GOWN

BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

I recently received my cap and gown in the mail as I prepare to earn my master's degree later this year. It is impossible to process the idea that I will soon be finished with graduate school and well on my way to earning a doctoral degree.

As I think about this, I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 3: "There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven."

There is a time for everything, and right now, I am in the final stretch of my master's degree. Holding my cap and gown feels unreal, a reminder of how far I have come, but I am not done yet.

Between now and May, I still have months of research ahead, diving deep into my work and pushing through the challenges that come with it. Grad school has tested my patience, faith, and determination, but every late-night and hard-earned lesson has brought me here.

The thought of starting my doctoral journey next is both exciting and daunting, but I know this is just another step in the bigger picture. For now, I am focused on finishing strong, embracing the process, and trusting that everything is happening in its time.

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