keenercam
Loves Mickey!
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2001
- Messages
- 10,466
Thanks for all the congratulations for Howard. I'll tell him he definitely has to come here and read them. 
I have to tell you -- Howard put finishing his undergrad education on hold for me to go to grad school and then it was further delayed as we started a family and bought a house. Even when he finished his undergrad, he always wanted to go back for his MBA but we just didn't make it a priority, especially with DS in private school and more recently, with DD going to college. In February 2006 Howard left a job where the owners were total snobs about the fact that he didnt' have his MBA, but he got a decent severance package. I told him he should take that money and put it toward going back to school. He got accepted into a Corporate Associates program, so that his tuition was fully funded by the University and a corporation in our community took him on as a 20 hour/week intern (they were a former client of his and crazy for the prospect of him working for them). The corporation paid a certain amount to the university which the university doled out bi-weekly as a living stipend. The university was THRILLED to have him in their program (who wouldn't be?
). He epitomizes what the program is about. So, he got free tuition, fabulous inside experience at his internship and a living stipend. We paid fees & books & sucked up the loss of his full-time income. He worked full-time at the same corporation (the area blood bank) last summer and they made him an offer for a permanent position which he will start Monday.
Since he was 17 or 18 years old, he has donated blood as frequently as possible and he was honored at the area blood bank's anniversary dinner ~5 years ago as one of its "HEROES". He has been a lifesaver donor for many years and is passionate about the mission of the blood bank, so the fit is phenomenal and like a dream come true. Actually, I think it is all about good karma -- Howard is, beyond a doubt, the BEST person I have ever met in my life. He has a pure, loving, generous heart and the world is an exponentially better place for any one person like him that exists. I am really proud of him for never giving up his dream or his passion for a better education. It makes me really proud to hear the powers that be at the University sing his praises, and I KNOW the blood bank will be a better place with him on board full time and permanently. I am already working on not crying from pride for him this weekend.
I have to tell you -- Howard put finishing his undergrad education on hold for me to go to grad school and then it was further delayed as we started a family and bought a house. Even when he finished his undergrad, he always wanted to go back for his MBA but we just didn't make it a priority, especially with DS in private school and more recently, with DD going to college. In February 2006 Howard left a job where the owners were total snobs about the fact that he didnt' have his MBA, but he got a decent severance package. I told him he should take that money and put it toward going back to school. He got accepted into a Corporate Associates program, so that his tuition was fully funded by the University and a corporation in our community took him on as a 20 hour/week intern (they were a former client of his and crazy for the prospect of him working for them). The corporation paid a certain amount to the university which the university doled out bi-weekly as a living stipend. The university was THRILLED to have him in their program (who wouldn't be?
). He epitomizes what the program is about. So, he got free tuition, fabulous inside experience at his internship and a living stipend. We paid fees & books & sucked up the loss of his full-time income. He worked full-time at the same corporation (the area blood bank) last summer and they made him an offer for a permanent position which he will start Monday. Since he was 17 or 18 years old, he has donated blood as frequently as possible and he was honored at the area blood bank's anniversary dinner ~5 years ago as one of its "HEROES". He has been a lifesaver donor for many years and is passionate about the mission of the blood bank, so the fit is phenomenal and like a dream come true. Actually, I think it is all about good karma -- Howard is, beyond a doubt, the BEST person I have ever met in my life. He has a pure, loving, generous heart and the world is an exponentially better place for any one person like him that exists. I am really proud of him for never giving up his dream or his passion for a better education. It makes me really proud to hear the powers that be at the University sing his praises, and I KNOW the blood bank will be a better place with him on board full time and permanently. I am already working on not crying from pride for him this weekend.
And PROUD you should be!!! 
I really wish in some ways I'd been more mature when I went to college and grad school. I really didn't appreciate the opportunities as much as I should have. Congrats on your upcoming graduation! You are really motorin' toward your finish!!! 
No, her response was essentially "Check your website now. I fixed that for you. Let me know if you need anything else. Feel free to ask any questions. No bother." See, to me, THAT's magic. Things don't work like that in every day life. And I'm not saying that DFTW folks will or could be instantly available or always provide an instant solution or answer, but this is just so cool! 
And I am so glad Howard was willing to do this. 
)
