ALMOST DONE

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

Somehow, I am sitting here as the semester comes to an end, and I really cannot believe it. On May 10, I will cross the stage at graduation and accept my master's degree. 

I have spent two months completing a research project focused on learning in rural communities. When I first began my college journey in 2020, I remember looking forward to the day I would conduct my original research that others could use to frame their entry-level arguments. 

Life has a way of coming full circle. As I prepare to begin my doctoral journey next, I remember this. 

I remember the hope I carried into every class, the quiet determination I had to persevere when things became difficult, and my steadfast belief that authentic, meaningful learning opens doors not just for me but also for others.

This degree is more than a piece of paper: it is a promise to continue asking questions, seeking answers, and working toward a future where students in every corner of every small town know that their voices and experiences matter. 

If my work has taught me anything, it is that rural communities hold just as much potential as any place in the world, and it is our responsibility to help uncover and realize it.

When I step across that stage on May 10, I will not simply be celebrating the end of a chapter. I will be carrying all of it forward: the lessons, the struggles, the victories, and the dreams, ready to begin again.

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PROTECT AND DEFEND

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