We did it.

Last Saturday Cam realized a dream shaped by countless decades of visioning and four long, tireless years of non-stop, relentless dedication, hard work, and blood, sweat, and tears:  He graduated from vet school.

We moved to the Twin Cities during the summer of 2018 so Cam could begin first year classes as a veterinary student at the University of Minnesota.  A whole lot of newness came with this transition:  Neither of us had lived in Minnesota before, up until that point we had been dating long distance for the last four years, and Cam was about to embark upon an entirely new career path that tapped into his passions and yet was entirely different from any other schooling or job title he had previously known.  Indeed, the summer of 2018 was filled with great change, upheaval, joy, and transition, and – whether we knew it then or not – it marked the start of a very new, very exciting, chapter of our lives together.

I remember Cam’s very first day of vet school:  In fact, it was actually also my first day of school teaching at a completely new district in Minnesota, but that is a blog post for another time.  Anyway, I recall Cam waking up and drinking his morning coffee, perfect parts excitement, nerves, and wild anticipation of what was to come.  And while neither of us actually knew exactly what was to come, the next several days and weeks were filled with excited stories of new classmates, early tests of knowledge with surprise quizzes and harrowing exams, and hilarious tales of animal adventures that were so impossibly diverse in nature and yet each its own steadfast reminder to expect the unexpected at all times.  Each and every day Cam would come home eager, tired, filled with new information, and bursting with excitement.  And even though his schedule was starting to get stricter and his requirements were steadily starting to climb, I could see it in his eyes and spirit that – though perhaps scary and filled with uncertainty at times – this was exactly the change Cam most needed in his life. 

And I was here for everything that meant:  Wild ride and all.

Four long, exhausting, and yet somehow fleetingly short years later, he did it.  Or, as Cam and I like to say, we did it.  While Cam is the one walking away from this experience with a degree, the title of doctor, and a whole bunch of super cool knowledge now at his fingertips, together we are walking away as an even stronger couple, deeply rooted in our convictions that we are one hundred percent made of the right stuff. 

Cam likes to say he couldn’t have done it without me – which is true, let’s not kid ourselves – but I also equally like to say that I couldn’t have done it without him.  And while that sentiment might not immediately make sense – after all, wasn’t everything that came with these four years a direct result of Cam? – it’s undeniably true.  This experience was exhilarating and grueling in nearly every way imaginable, and I’m not sure I would have been able to navigate it all without my best friend by my side.  And, not only did Cam support me in supporting him – funny, I know – but he also tirelessly buoyed me in my own career transition and the intense rollercoaster of uncertainty that came with it.  As a couple, we have always encouraged each other to reach, stretch, and grow just a little bit further than we might otherwise do on our own as individuals.  Cam and I are both deeply curious, committed lifelong learners, and when I saw him hard pivot and put in the work to flex towards something he was deeply passionate about, a little voice inside my head went off saying, “Katie, you can do this, too.”  Countless hours, job applications, interviews, and tears later I found my own version of a better-fit career transition, and I haven’t looked back since.  Was leaving teaching something I had thought about for a while before I finally took the leap?  Absolutely.  But, seeing Cam successfully navigate this next chapter of his own career journey gave me that extra nudge to go out there and unwaveringly pursue my own version of change.  And I am so glad I did.

Like I said:  We did it.

So, with four years of change, struggle, and triumph as our context, last Saturday’s graduation festivities were beautiful, celebratory, and also slightly bittersweet.  The day itself was flawless:  Spring had officially sprung in Minnesota, the temperature was perfectly situated in the low 70s, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  Being the gregarious hard worker and people-centered high-performer that he is, Cam was awarded the honor to speak on behalf of the entire graduating class, and he did so with impeccable humor and humility.  Much like Cam’s approach to life in general, his speech captured the perfect blend of wit, good-nature, heart-warming sentiment, and poignancy as he captivated the audience with laughter, tears, and goosebumps while reflecting on everything that has transpired since the summer of 2018.  He utterly killed it:  It was a profound, deeply moving moment, and I was so, so proud of him.

So, here we are:  We did it!  Four years, two career transitions, one DVM degree, an engagement, a puppy, countless rides on an emotional rollercoaster, and all sorts of immeasurable growth later, we actually did the damn thing!  I am insanely proud of Dr. Cam and all he has accomplished.  And, I am absolutely ecstatic about this next chapter of our lives we are about to start together, and the all immeasurable good that awaits.