Faux Real

Three people I know are graduating this month. All three are non-traditional students, and all three are very high achievers I’m proud to know.

1. My babymama friend and cohort in crime is graduating with a full RN nursing degree after four years of slogging it out as a single mother/waitress/bartender/student living on HUD and other welfare programs while making straight As and generally kicking ass. She got a job in one of the “worst” ERs in the Chicago area, which she claims is the best spot she could be in since “it’s all gunshot wounds and mental health patients,” and yes, that’s totally her thing. She’ll also be making more per hour than Chef and I combined.

2. Annie, who I’ve known for years and lives just down the street, is graduating with honors in the Women’s Studies and Sociology program with research focusing on “identity and computer-mediated communication.” We met in the fifth grade, when I was a preppy bitch and Annie was generally Annie — but only became real friends later when I realized that she was the people worth spending time with at school. She’s one of my oldest friends — and as such, we spent many nights planning The Revolution, and now that she’s an expert in such things I expect her to lead it.

3. My older sister graduated with a degree in engineering over a decade ago (sadly, while I inherited the handwriting I did not inherit the mathematical ability) and after a period of work in the industry, decided to pursue other interests in a wide berth of areas. Several years ago she announced that she was going back to school to get another degree, this time in nursing. My fabulous sister –who took care of me during the dark days of my pregnancy, helped me navigate tangled family webs when I was at my worst, and introduced me to feminist philosophies in the first place — looks so damned happy explaining the finer points of bowel movements and blood circulation that after these crazy biological conversations that I leave thinking about them, and her, long after. Even though I’m often impatient with my people, I’m so proud to be of the women in my family.

Really, I have the coolest role models. Congratulations to all of you.